Treatment strategies for lower cervical dislocation combined with facet locking / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the therapeutic options for treatment of subaxial cervical dislocation combined with facet locking. Methods There were 49 patients with cervical dislocations including 7 patients with dislocation at C3,4, 15 at C4,5, 14 at C5,6 and 13 at C6,7. Eleven patients were with old dislocation, with duration of dislocation ranging from 2 hours to 61 days. Neurologic status of the patients according to Frankel scale was graded A in 14 patients, grade B in nine, grade C in 10 and grade D in nine. All patients were treated surgically after closed reduction with skull traction. Results The successful reduction rate was 63% for fresh dislocation, with average improvement of 0.65 grade for spinal cord function. All bone grafts got fusion at four months after operation. Conclusion Therapeutic options are based on fresh or old dislocations, paraplegia or not, intervertebral disk injury severity, and reduction or not through traction for patients with lower cervical dislocations.