• Katsushi Takeshita, Lawrence G Lenke, Keith H Bridwell, Yongjung J Kim, Brenda Sides, and Marsha Hensley.
• Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Takeshita-ort@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
• Spine. 2006 Sep 15;31(20):2381-5.

Study DesignRetrospective case-control study.ObjectivesTo compare patients treated with and without intraoperative halo-femoral traction to assess neuromuscular spinal deformity correction as well as the safety of the technique.Summary Of Background DataOptimal sitting balance can be achieved in nonambulatory neuromuscular patients with pelvic obliquity by maneuvering a Galveston-type rod or inserting screws into the iliac wings; however, this is often clinically challenging because of the small, soft bone-stock in the pelvis of these patients.MethodsA total of 40 patients with nonambulatory neuromuscular scoliosis were treated surgically with a T2 or T3-sacrum instrumented posterior spinal fusion. There were 20 patients (12 who underwent posterior spinal fusion-alone and 8 anterior/posterior spinal fusion) who had intraoperative halo-femoral traction performed unilaterally on the high side iliac wing compared to a control group of 20 patients (15 who underwent posterior spinal fusion-alone and 5 anterior/posterior spinal fusion) operatively treated without halo-femoral traction. Each group had 14 patients with spastic (cerebral palsy) scoliosis, and 6 with flaccid (muscular dystrophy) scoliosis deformities. Minimum follow-up for all patients was 2 years (range 3-12).ResultsPreoperative lumbar scoliosis averaged 87 degrees (range 30 degrees-141 degrees) in the halo-femoral traction group and 67 degrees (range 28 degrees-108 degrees) in the control group (P = 0.012). Postoperative lumbar Cobb decreased to 35 degrees (range 15 degrees-60 degrees) in the halo-femoral traction group and 32 degrees (range 4 degrees-66 degrees) in the control group (P = 0.181). Preoperative pelvic obliquity averaged 26 degrees (range 8 degrees-47 degrees) in the halo-femoral traction group and 17 degrees (range 8 degrees-44 degrees) in the control group (P = 0.017); postoperative averaged 6 degrees (range 1 degrees-23 degrees) in the halo-femoral traction group and 7 degrees (range 0 degrees-27 degrees) in the control group. Average pelvic obliquity correction was 78% in the halo-femoral traction group and 52% in the control group (P = 0.001). There were no intraoperative or postoperative halo-femoral traction apparatus-related complications noted (pin cut-out, femoral fractures, pin-sight infections, etc.).ConclusionsIntraoperative use of halo-femoral traction during the surgical treatment of patients with nonambulatory neuromuscular scoliosis provided significantly improved lumbar curve and pelvic obliquity correction. Intraoperative halo-femoral traction had no associated perioperative complications.

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