Bony fusion in a chronic cervical bilateral facet dislocation

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Injury Management

Background:

• Cervical facet dislocations typically present acutely with pain and neurological deficits.
• Bilateral facet joint dislocations necessitate urgent evaluation, reduction, and surgical treatment.
• Delayed presentations of bilateral dislocations are uncommon but documented.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old male presented with mild neck pain one year post-injury.
• Computed tomography revealed a healed, bony-fused bilateral C6-7 facet dislocation.
• The patient's chronic injury presented with minimal symptoms.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates a healed bilateral C6-7 facet dislocation presenting one year after the initial injury.
• The chronic, fused dislocation was stable and asymptomatic, requiring no surgical intervention.
• This contrasts with the typical acute presentation and immediate surgical management of such injuries.

Implications:

• Bilateral cervical facet dislocations may be initially missed, especially in delayed presentations.
• Healed, chronic facet dislocations can be stable and may not require surgical intervention.
• This case expands the understanding of the natural history and management spectrum of cervical facet injuries.