EXPERIENCE OF HALOPELVIC TRACTION IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE SPINE DEFORMITY: A CASE SERIES

Background: Severe and rigid scoliosis and kyphosis are difficult to treat but with the advent of new spinal operative techniques and implants, it has become manageable in expert hands. However these implants are too expensive for developing countries like us. The Halo-pelvic traction is a relatively cheaper device system used to treat such deformities. Moreover, rapid curve correction and one stage surgery may lead to permanent neurological deficit.Objective: To evaluate treatment outcome of Halo-pelvic Traction in the treatment of severe scoliosis and kyphosis. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in the department of Orthopedics surgery and traumatology unit – I, King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore from September 2010 to August 2012. The patients with severe spinal deformity which could not be corrected at a single stage were included. A Performa was made for each patient and results were statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Results: Total no. of 07 patients were treated, out of them 04 scoliosis patients having mean Cobb’s angle of 77.25 ± 5.31º before treatment, improved signifi-cantly to 45 ± 5.35º after surgery (p˂0.0001), 03 kyphosis patients with mean Kyphus angle of 96.67 ± 24.66º improved to 58.33 ± 17.56º (p˂0.0001). Two major complications i.e. one paraplegia which recovered incompletely and one had CSF discharge from cranial pin that was also revived thoroughly after changing the position of the pin. Conclusion: Halopelvic traction device can help in treating the patients of severe scoliosis and kyphosis.