Presentation
Neurological symptoms after a motor vehicle collision.
Patient Data
The left inferior articular process of C5 completely jumped over the superior articular process of C6 thus making it a Locked facet joint. Due to this and the associated degenerative changes, there is focal cervical canal narrowing with focal T2WI hyperintensity within the spinal cord indicating compressive myelopathy. Note the absence of anterolisthesis.
The inferior articular process of C5 is completely anterior to the superior articular process of C6.
Case Discussion
MRI features are consistent with unilateral facet dislocation, a stable type of facet joint dislocation where the inferior articular process of one cervical vertebra is dislocated anterior to the superior articular process of the below vertebra. The condition is called locked facet, and shows naked facet sign on axial sequences 1,2.
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