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.