C7--T1 bilateral facet dislocation: a rare lesion presenting with the syndrome of acute anterior spinal cord injury.

Dislocation of the cervicothoracic junction, between the C7 and T1 vertebrae, occurred in a 46-year-old inebriated man. The C7--T1 junction is difficult to visualize on roentgenographs even when the upper extremities are pulled down. This injury is uncommon and often undiagnosed immediately after injury (Fig. 7). The reason the dislocation was not reduced prior to anesthesia is attributable to poor roentgenographic visualization and insufficient traction. The latter resulted from the patient's rapid motor recovery, which discouraged the use of more than 10 lb of skeletal traction. Surgical stabilization was effective and permitted the patient to ambulate immediately.