title: Delayed surgical management of a traumatic bilateral cervical facet dislocation by an anterior-posterior-anterior approach.
abstract: Delayed diagnosis (more than one month after injury) of a bilateral cervical facet dislocation is exceptional, and delayed treatment is different from treatment in the acute stage. We describe a neurologically intact 51-year-old patient, in whom the diagnosis of bilateral cervical facet dislocation at C5/6 was made 10 weeks after the trauma. An anterior-posterior-anterior approach was performed, with repositioning during the posterior approach, and with anterior and posterior C5/6 fixation. The patient remained neurologically intact, and radiographic fusion was observed 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Additionally, the (English) literature is reviewed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Rue Micheli-du-Crest 24, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. mpayer@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Payer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tessitore
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D011859:Radiography; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*