Cervical facet dislocations in the adolescent population: a report of 21 cases at a Level 1 trauma center from 2004 to 2014.

Anissipour, Alireza; Agel, Julie; Bellabarba, Carlo; Bransford, Richard; Anissipour, Alireza K; Bransford, Richard J

<bold>Purpose: </bold>The purpose of this study was to present a series of adolescent patients with cervical facet dislocations to identify the mechanism of injury, severity of neurological injury and rate of neurological recovery.<bold>Methods: </bold>Between 2004 and 2014, a retrospective review at a level I trauma center identified patients with unilateral or bilateral dislocated facet(s). Demographic data, initial neurological exams, surgical data, radiographic findings, and follow-up records were reviewed.<bold>Results: </bold>Of the 21 adolescent facet dislocations, 7 were unilateral and 14 bilateral. Mean age was 14.9 years; (range 12-17). Male:female ratio was 15:6. All patients presented as a result of a high-energy injury. C6-7 was the most common level of dislocation. 1 of 18 (5.5%) patients had a cervical disc herniation on MRI. Nine (43%) patients had an associated facet fracture (8 unilateral, 1 bilateral). None of the 12 patients who presented as a complete spinal cord injury (SCI) (AISA A) had any neurological recovery. Only one of the three patients who presented as an incomplete SCI (ASIA B, C, D) had an ASIA grade improvement at final follow-up. Six patients who presented were neurologically intact (ASIA E).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Over half of children with this injury in our study had a complete SCI with no recovery. We believe that the adolescent spine is more resilient to injury, thus requiring a high-energy injury to cause a dislocation, but resulting in a high rate of SCI with a low rate of neurological recovery, and a low rate of cervical disc herniation.

UNITED States; CERVICAL vertebrae dislocation; ADOLESCENT health; NERVOUS system injuries; TRAUMA centers; CERVICAL vertebrae radiography; CERVICAL vertebrae; CERVICAL vertebrae injuries; ZYGAPOPHYSEAL joint; CONVALESCENCE; BONE fractures; INTERVERTEBRAL disk displacement; SPINAL fusion; SPINAL injuries; RETROSPECTIVE studies; WOUNDS & injuries; SURGERY

European Spine Journal, 2017, Vol 26, Issue 4, p1266

0940-6719

Academic Journal

10.1007/s00586-017-5003-0