Facet coverage in children on flexion lateral cervical radiographs

Study Design. This radiographic study was designed to attempt to develop st andards of facet coverage (overlap) on lateral cervical radiographs during voluntary flexion. Objective. To produce normative standards for minimum facet coverage in chi ldren. Summary of Background Data. Previous studies on normative standards of face t coverage have been performed only in adults. Methods. Thirty-six children with minor trauma had lateral flexion-extensio n radiographs. A standard filming sequence was used in all. Facet joint ove rlap at each level was divided by the anteroposterior diameter of the upper adjacent cervical body at each level. Results. On linear regression analysis, these ratios did not vary significa ntly with age at C2-C3 through C6-C7. Means and standard deviations were de termined for C2-C7. Conclusions. These ratios may prove useful in evaluation of children with p ossible ligamentous injury.