Treatment of chronic bilateral facet dislocation in a 6-year-old: A case report

OBJECTIVES: Spine injuries seldom affect the subaxial spine in children less than 9 years of age. We describe the management of a chronic paediatric bilateral facet dislocation. METHODS: Case report and literature review. A 6-year-old boy presented 10 weeks after a motor vehicle collision with bilateral C4–C5 malunited facet dislocation. He had an incomplete spinal cord injury; right brown sequard hemiplegia, Frankel grade D. RESULTS: Surgical management was through posterior–anterior–posterior approach without preoperative skull traction. Two years postoperatively, the child was asymptomatic, ambulating and functioning well. The injury had healed in radiographs. CONCLUSION: A combined approach for chronic bilateral facet dislocation applies to the paediatric age group to realign the spine.