Bilateral facet dislocation at the lumbosacral joint. A report of a case and review of literature

Abstract

Traumatic facet dislocation of the lumbosacral joint is uncommon. This report of a bilateral L5-S1 facet dislocation is compared with prior reported unilateral and bilateral cases with respect to mechanism of injury, neurologic injury, surgical reduction and fixation, and clinical outcome. Attention to the disk injury is recognized as essential to prevent cauda equina or root compression after reduction and fixation of the dislocation.