Mechanism:
- Flexion-distraction
- Additional rotational component postulated for unilateral dislocations
History:
- MVCs
- Falls from significant height
- In elderly patients, possibly only relatively minor trauma.
Unilateral facet dislocation presentation:
- Head often held deviated away from the side of the injury
- Pain with inability to straighten the head
- Ipsilateral radiculopathy
- Possibly palpable malalignment of spinous processes
Bilateral facet dislocation presentation:
- Neck pain often with frank neurologic deficit
- Possibly palpable bony stepoff
