TREATMENT OF SEVERE SPINAL DEFORMATIONS IN CHILDREN WITH IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS USING HALO-GRAVITY TRACTION

Abstract

The aim: To chose the best way treatment and achievement of 3-dimensional spinal correction in order to maximize its parameters to the physiological norms is a choice of the optimal surgical severe scoliotic spinal deformity correction technology. Materials and methods: Performed surgical treatments to 60 children of two patient’s groups, that were under surgical treatment for severe scoliotic spinal deformations with preliminary used halo-gravity traction and one-step correction; to establish an effective and safe protocol of the treatment for children with severe scoliotic spinal deformations (>100°). The results comparative analysis of 60 patients with severe scoliotic spinal deformations, with a two-step surgery treatments (first step – halo-gravity traction and second step – correcting spinal instrumentation) and patients with one-step correction. Patients were divided into 2 groups with 30 children in each of them. The first group treated with preoperatively HGT (halo-gravity traction) and after that a spinal instrumentation together with osteotomies (3-4 levels by Ponte; VCR (vertebral column resection) osteotomy 1 level) were performed. The second group – performed one-step spinal instrumentation with osteotomies (3-4 levels by Ponte; VCR osteotomy 1 level). Results: One-step implanted construction in children with severe scoliotic spinal deformations, compare to HGT treatment that were carried out in stages – is increasing the danger of neurological deficiency by 17%, HGT allows to make more corrections and to adjust spinal cord for the next correction treatment. . Conclusions: Halo-gravity traction as a first stage of severe scoliotic spinal deformations treatment allows to increase the mobility of the vertebral column and to adjust spinal cord step by step for the next correction treatment.