Management of bilateral locked facets of the cervical spine

A total of 28 cases of cervical spine dislocation with bilateral locking of facets treated between 1976 and 1984 were analyzed to determine whether treatment modality had any effect on outcome based on cord or root function. Motor vehicle accidents were responsible for 19 cases; the most common levels of dislocation were C-5, C-6 and C-6, C-7, with 10 each. Twenty patients were admitted with complete myelopathies. Ten patients whose dislocations were successfully reduced with traction had no neurological changes, but 1 reduced elsewhere deteriorated from a C-5 to C-2 level. Eleven of these patients underwent posterior cervical fusions after delays of 1 to 17 days (mean = 6.3); 2 died, and 1 patient achieved slight root return. Seven underwent anterior decompression and fusion or combined anterior and posterior approaches after delays of 9 to 120 days. One patient died in the postoperative period, 1 had substantial recovery of cord function, and 5 had recovery of root function. There was no operation or improvement in 2 patients. Eight patients had incomplete myelopathies; 4 were initially reduced, with 2 improving slightly as a result. Three patients underwent posterior fusions with foraminotomies with minimal improvement. Five had anterior or combined approaches; these patients improved at least one neurological grade each, including 3 who became newly ambulatory. All 24 surviving patients achieved spinal stability, although it occurred slightly earlier in the anterior fusion groups. Surgical approaches designed to provide spinal stability and restore the normal anatomy of the spinal canal and neural foramina may be of functional benefit in the management of these dislocations.