unilateral locked facet

unilateral locked facet

Orthopedics A lower cervical spine subluxation and locking at the facet joint caused by falls from steps or stairs or motor vehicle crashes, and due to flexion/rotation forces Imaging Subluxation of superior vertebral body–seen in ±25% on the lateral cervical spine films or is malignment of spinous processes on AP Management Reduction with cervical traction; if facet is fractured, halo; if not, posterior fusion. See Halo. Cf Bilateral locked facets.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.