Table of Contents

Cervical locked facet treatment


A nonoperative cervical orthosis or external immobilization (6-12 weeks) in facet fractures without significant subluxation, dislocation, or kyphosis.

Reduction

Traumatic disc herniation in cervical facet dislocations is not an absolute contraindication of cranial-cervical traction or posterior open reduction. Early realignment of the spine could bring more neurological benefits than waiting for an MRI or surgical discectomy. However, caution is needed until prospective and well-designed studies are performed 1).


Closed reduction of locked facets

see Closed reduction of locked facets.

Open reduction of locked facets

see Open reduction of locked facets.

1)
Onishi FJ, Daniel JW, Joaquim AF, Evangelista AC, de Freitas Bertolini E, Dantas FR, Neto ER, Mudo ML, Brock R, Milano JB, Botelho RV. The impact of traumatic herniated discs in cervical facets dislocations treatments: systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Spine J. 2022 Oct;31(10):2664-2674. doi: 10.1007/s00586-022-07290-z. Epub 2022 Jun 28. PMID: 35763222.