Anterior pedicle spreader reduction for unilateral cervical facet dislocation

The anterior only surgical procedure including discectomy, open reduction and fusion is used as a recommended approach in the treatment of unilateral cervical facet dislocations, but is difficult to achieve satisfactory anterior open reduction by vertebra distractor to spread the facet joints, especially for delayed management of unilateral cervical facet dislocation (7-21days). The goal of this study was to report an anterior pedicle spreader technique to distract directly the facet joint for anterior reduction and the results of 4 patients with successful application and describe safety.

Four patients with unilateral cervical facet dislocation who failed to open anterior reduction by vertebra spreader procedure were surgically treated by the anterior pedicle spreader reduction. In these 4 patients (3 males and 1 female), the distribution of spine level was from C4/5 to C6/7; the neurological status was comprised 2 patients with ASIA E, 1 with D and 1 with A; the surgical management was ranged from 7 to 18days. After discectomy, if failed to open anterior reduction procedure, the anterior pedicle spreader was inserted along the pedicle axis with the fluoroscope-assisted view imaging. The spreader was distracted directly to the facet joint and pushed in a caudad direction to achieve posterior translation of the upper segment.

Postoperatively, all patients had obtained successful reduction and satisfactory anatomic sagittal alignment. There was no complication owing to the use of this technique. The ASIA A showed no neurological improvement; the patient with ASIA D was improved neurologically to ASIA E; no ASIA E patients showed neurological deterioration.

Anterior pedicle spreader reduction represents an efficacious but technically challenging option for the delayed treatment of unilateral cervical facet dislocation.