Pin-site myiasis: A rare complication of halo orthosis

Abstract

Study design: Case report. Objective: To report a rare complication following halo placement for cervical fracture. Setting: United States University Teaching Hospital. Case report: A 39-year-old woman who sustained a spinal cord injury from a C6-7 fracture underwent halo placement. She subsequently developed an infection adjacent to the right posterior pin, which then became infected with Diptera larvae (maggots), necessitating removal of the pin and debridement of the wound site. Conclusion: Halo orthosis continues to be an effective means of immobilizing the cervical spine. Incidence of complications ranges from 6.4 to 36.0% of cases. Commonly reported complications include pin-site infection, pin penetration, pin loosening, pressure sores, nerve injury, bleeding, and head ring migration. Pin-site myiasis is rare, with no known reports found in the literature. Poor pin-site care by the patient and her failure to keep follow-up appointments after development of the initial infection likely contributed to the development of this complication. © 2005 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.