Traumatic unilateral facet dislocation of the lumbosacral junction without fracture or with non-displaced fractures of adjacent vertebrae is extremely rare. We describe a case of a young male who sustained a unilateral facet dislocation of the lumbosacral junction in a motor vehicle accident. The unusual features of this case include an unremarkable physical and neurological examination on presentation and absence of other substantial vertebral or extra-vertebral injuries.

Study Design: Thirty-four patients who were operated for spinal deformities with the Spine System Evolution (SSE) were retrospectively reviewed.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficiency of SSE to correct spinal deformities.

Summary of Background Data: Since the end of the Harrington rods era, several instrumentation were introduced for correction of spinal deformities. Most of these instrumentations are evolution of he CD instrumentation and are based on combination of translation, distraction/compression and possible some rotation forces. Cord injuries were informed to be more frequent with the new instruments and are related both to ischemic injuries and to mechanical insults to the cord by the supralaminar and the infralaminar hooks. Correction by the SSE is based on pedicle screws and pedicular-transverse locks. No hook is inserted into the spinal canal.

Methods: All charts, radiographs, and images of the patients operated for spinal deformities with the SSE were reviewed. Thirty-four patients were found. For the purpose of this study they were evaluated for the amount of correction achieved, balance of the spine, subjective satisfaction of the cosmetic appearance and the surgical complications.

Results: The mean age of the operated patients was 19.5 years. Twenty-one were operated for idiopathic scoliosis and were found to have 61% correction of the major curves. Five patients were operated for neuromuscular scoliosis with 69% of correction in average, four were operated for thoracic hyperkyphosis with reduction of the curves to physiologic range in all of them and four were operated for adult scoliosis with 38% of correction. Twenty-eight patients were satisfied from the results and the same number of patients were found to be balanced in the range of up to one-centimeter shift from the mid-line. No patient was found to have any major neurologic complication and no deep wound infections was registered. One patient had postoperative bronchopneumonia, another one had pneumothorax, one had superficial wound infection and another girl was troubled with her body image.

Conclusions: SSE instrumentation was found friendly to use and relatively safe for correction of spinal deformities.