Cervical Facetectomy and Its Effect on Stability

Abstract

Stability and the factors affecting it are of paramount importance for evaluating therapeutic modalities in the treatment of cervical spine disorders. Measurements have been made on the ligamentous structures singly and as a group. Some measurements have also been made on the facets and their ability to influence or alter normal spine strength [1]. Work to date regarding facets has been done with these structures either intact or absent. Objective criteria regarding stability have therefore been an all or none situation in the experiments performed. When the ligamentous structures are sectioned posteriorly or anteriorly, half of them must be cut before instability results unless the articular facets are removed [2, 3, 7]. Such extensive distinction rarely occurs except in severe trauma [6]. However, clinical situations arise where facet resection is necessary or advantageous. There have been no measurements made concerning the amount of facet that may be removed before instability results. Our objective in these experiments was to determine when this point was reached.