Closed Manual Reduction of Bilaterally Jumped and Locked Cervical Facets under General Anesthesia: Technical Note

Closed reduction is an important adjunct in the surgical management of traumatic cervical facet dislocations, particularly jumped and locked facets. By restoring normal spinal alignment, successful closed reduction allows the surgeon to proceed with surgical stabilization via an anterior-first approach, obviating the need to rotate a dislocated, biomechanically unstable cervical spine, thereby minimizing the risk of iatrogenic spinal cord injury. While closed reduction has traditionally been achieved with Gardner-Wells tongs and weights, this reduction method requires the patient to remain bedbound for prolonged periods of time, is not MRI-compatible, and is associated with inconsistent results.

We present two patients with bilaterally jumped and locked cervical facets, in whom a closed manual reduction technique was used, allowing rapid spinal realignment prior to surgical stabilization. We provide a detailed video illustration of this technique, emphasizing the steps involved and relevant technical nuances. While this technique might have been previously used and rarely reported, it has not, to the best of our knowledge, been described in a detailed, step-by-step fashion.

Closed manual reduction of traumatic cervical facet dislocations can be performed safely and effectively in the operating room prior to definitive surgical stabilization of the spine. This technique should not be attempted in patients with severe spinal cord compression or neurologic compromise. The importance of adequate muscle relaxation provided by general anesthesia and continuous intraoperative feedback provided by live fluoroscopy and neurophysiologic monitoring cannot be overemphasized.