Bilateral locked facets of the lumbosacral spine: treatment with open reduction and transpedicular fixation.
BACKGROUND
A 23-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle crash and found to have bilateral locked facets at L5-S1. His neurologic examination, radiographic workup, surgical management, postoperative care, and the relevant literature are discussed.


METHODS
Case report and literature review.


RESULTS
This patient underwent solid fusion with anatomic alignment following open reduction and internal fixation. He made a good neurologic recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Early surgery, consisting of open reduction, fixation, and fusion, provides the best results in patients with lumbosacral fracture-dislocations.
Arnold
Paul M
PM
Department of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. parnold@kumc.edu
Malone
David G
DG
Han
Patrick P
PP
D000328:Adult; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012447:Sacrum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery