title: Traumatic lateral spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine with a unilateral locked facet: description of an unusual injury, probable mechanism, and management.
abstract: Primary traumatic facet dislocations are unusual in the lumbar spine. Most occurrences have been reported at the lumbosacral junction associated with anterior subluxation. The authors describe 2 cases in which a high impact trauma resulted in lateral subluxation with a unilateral locked facet involving the lumbar spine. In their review of the literature, the authors found no previously reported cases of this type of injury. Both cases described in this report involved significant spinal stenosis, neurological injury, and spinal instability. A posterior surgical approach, with at least partial resection of the locked facet joint in conjunction with pedicle screw fixation, allowed successful reduction and stabilization of the injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5338, USA.
authors.forename: Sangala Jaypal
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Wajd N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Al-Holou
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leveque
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000293:injuries*