title: Anterior Facetectomy for Reduction of Cervical Facet Dislocation.
abstract: METHODS
  Technique report and case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop a new surgical technique for anterior reduction in management of unilateral/bilateral facet dislocations and to report the results of 8 patients with successful outcomes associated with this approach.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The anterior-only surgical procedure, including discectomy, open reduction, fusion, and fixation, is a recommended approach in the treatment of cervical facet dislocations. This approach is with a failure rate of up to 40%. When it fails, a posterior approach is usually required. We have developed a new surgical approach with facetectomy for anterior reduction of cervical facet dislocations. This technique is especially useful for delayed management of unilateral/bilateral facet dislocation patients who failed the conventional anterior open reduction to avoid a posterior procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with cervical facet dislocations who failed in the conventional anterior reduction were surgically treated by the anterior facetectomy reduction technique. After discectomy, anteromedial foraminotomy was performed by resection of posterior foraminal part or total of uncovertebral joint. After the nerve root was retracted cephalad in the neuroforamina, the edge of the dislocated superior facet was broken to achieve reduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively, all patients have obtained successful reduction and satisfactory anatomic sagittal alignment. There were no complications attributable to the use of this technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anterior facetectomy reduction represents a safe and efficacious but technically challenging option for the treatment of cervical facet dislocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhengfeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ziping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Honggang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shangguan
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome