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Bilateral perched facet joint

Case contributed by Abdulmajid Bawazeer
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Hyperflexion injury in a road traffic accident.

Patient Data

Age: 40 years
Gender: Male

There are disruption and distraction of the normal C6-C7 facet joint alignment associated with widening of the interspinous distance and retrolisthesis of C7 vertebral body. 

Case Discussion

The perched facet joint is a vertebral facet joint whose inferior articular process appears to sit 'perched' on the ipsilateral superior articular process of the vertebra below (could be unilateral or bilateral). Always associated with hyperflexion road traffic accidents.

Cervical spine MRI is helpful to role out spinal cord injury as it is highly suspected.

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