cervical traction devices

BACKGROUND: Empiric data on headgear wear are scarce. The aim was to examine a possible discrepancy between the duration of wearing and force application, and whether such a difference is influenced by force level or direction of traction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, 122 consecutive patients were included. All were treated with headgear (three subgroups: high-pull headgear [n = 60], cervical-pull headgear [n = 32], and high-pull headgear in combination with an activator [n = 30]) and were monitored for three successive months using an electronic module...

INTRODUCTION: Neck pain is common in the post-operative period after craniofacial procedures. If patients present with neck pain and torticollis, it could be a manifestation of atlantoaxial rotatory subluxlation (AARS), which describes a rare condition in which there is lateral displacement of C1 relative to C2. When this occurs in the post-operative patient, it is termed Grisel syndrome. In this case series, we report on 3 patients diagnosed with Grisel syndrome after a craniofacial procedure...

The application of the Halo fixateur in case of spinal pathologies in childhood is a standardized technique. The halo fixateur may be used for treatment of injuries of the cervical spine, for additional stabilization following extended surgery at the cervical spine and their transitional regions as well as to achieve preoperative reduction in case of severe and rigid deformity. These indications are, referred to the early age, rare. However, the successful use of the Halo fixateur presumes a certain familiarity with the device and experiences regarding the underlying diseases to minimize related risks and to avoid possible complications...

Some cervical dislocation injuries may be acutely treated with traction via Gardner-Wells tongs, which are attached to the skull via two pins. While a variety of techniques have been proposed and utilized in the literature and clinical practice to use the tongs, these techniques have not been methodically studied to confirm how they transmit loads to the cervical spine. The current study investigated the mechanical effect of different traction techniques in a laboratory setting. A 50th male Hybrid anthropomorphic test device was used as a human surrogate to represent an average male in height and weight was modified to represent a patient with a unilateral facet dislocation injury...

MRI provides diagnostic three-dimensional imaging and remains extremely important in the diagnosis and management of spinal trauma as well as other acute traumatic injuries, including those of the extremities. The American Society for Testing and Materials has created standards against which all implantable medical devices are tested to ensure safety in an MR environment. Most implantable passive orthopaedic devices can undergo MRI without consequence to the patient. However, the American Society for Testing and Materials has recently updated its terminology resulting in confusion among providers and institutions...

Twenty-eight pluriparous and non-lactating Santa Inês sheep were synchronized with vaginal sponge and an intramuscular (IM) injection of 37.5 μg of cloprostenol on random days of the estrous cycle (D0); day 6 (D6), at 7:00 am, the devices were removed, and after 24 h (D7), GnRH analog (25 μg of lecirelin) was administrated. Fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) with cervical traction by the transcervical route was performed 52 to 58 h after sponge removal. Doppler velocimetry of both uterine arteries was performed on D0, D2, D4, and the morning of D6 (every 48 h), and then every 12 h from D6 to D8 (7:00 a...

Odontoid synchondrosis fractures are the most common cervical fracture in young children, although their overall incidence is rare. Various strategies have been proposed in the management of injuries with significant displacement or angulation. In this report, we present the long-term functional and radiological outcomes following nonoperative treatment of such a fracture in a 5-year-old female. The patient was referred to our tertiary centre with radiological progression of angulation from 10° to 35° within 5 weeks of the injury, despite wearing a rigid collar...

OBJECTIVES: The halo ring can be applied in children, through skeletal traction or a halo vest device, to treat many cervical spine pathologies, including traumatic injuries and pathologies related to deformities. However, the procedure is associated with various complications, such as infection, pin loosening, and respiratory and neurological problems. Although widely studied in adults, the best pin insertion site in children and the correlations of pin insertion sites with outcomes and complications have not been completely elucidated...

INTRODUCTION: The Bioceptive suction cervical retractor (SCR) is a novel device that can replace the standard single-tooth tenaculum to place traction on the cervix. A feasibility trial was conducted on the device for intrauterine device (IUD) placement. METHODS: Our three-stage feasibility process began with Stage 1, where the device was tested on in-vitro and ex-vivo samples. In Stage 2, 10 women received their IUD using the device. In Stage 3, a feasibility trial, we randomly assigned 25 consenting women to receive their IUD using either the Bioceptive SCR or the standard single-tooth tenaculum...

STUDY DESIGN: Non-controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of a simple home spinal traction device on sagittal cranio-cervical posture and related symptoms. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Forward head protraction (FHP) and cranio-cervical malalignment were shown to be consequential in the development adverse musculoskeletal radiographic findings and symptoms in that region. METHODS: Participants (n = 13, 18-36-year-old) were drawn from a mildly symptomatic population, all presented with cranio-cervical malalignment and considerable FHP...

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neuromonitoring (ION) signal changes during spine surgery may portend a potentially catastrophic neurologic injury that, if identified and addressed expediently, may allow the surgeon to take correction actively and prevent permanent neurologic injury. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of transient loss in somatosensory evoked potentials signals during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) C4-7, which was mainly attributed to shoulder traction using a special device...

Terrorist acts occur every day around the world. Healthcare professionals are often present as bystander survivors in these situations, with none of the equipment or infrastructure they rely on in their day-to-day practice. Within several countries there has been a move to disseminate the actions to take in the event of such attacks: in the UK, Run, Hide, Tell , and in the USA, Fight Back This paper outlines how a very basic medical knowledge combined with everyday high-street items can render highly effective first aid and save lives...

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a novel traction device for management of pediatric atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation (AARS) in source limiting areas. BACKGROUND: Atlanto-axial (C1-C2) joint is accountable for up to two third of total axial craniocervical rotation. Its major role in pivotal rotation of cervical spine makes it more vulnerable to a certain type of injury known as AARS. Management of AARS is based on the Fielding classification which includes closed reduction and immobilization and cervical fusion in unstable cases...

BACKGROUND: The primary treatment strategy for chronic atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (chro-AARF) is traction followed by bracing or application of a halo device. However, to complete these conservative therapies, patient cooperation is mandatory. If conservative therapy fails, surgery is required for reduction and prevention of recurrence. It has been considered that surgery for atlantoaxial rotatory fixation necessitates solid bony fusion. However, once bony fusion is achieved, loss of range of motion is problematic...

INTRODUCTION: Most fighter pilots report cervical pain during their careers. Recommendations for remediation lack evidence. We sought to determine whether regular use of a home cervical traction device could decrease reported cervical pain in F-15C pilots. METHODS: An institutional review board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, controlled crossover study was undertaken with 21 male F-15C fighter pilots between February and June 2015...

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the pain-relieving effect of intracervical lidocaine gel with that of lidocaine spray or no local anaesthesia in decreasing pain during insertion of the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD). METHODS: In a prospective multicentre non-randomised comparative study design, 420 women were divided into three groups of 140 and fitted with the same type of IUCD. Group 1 received cervical lidocaine gel, group 2 received cervical lidocaine spray and group 3 received no topical anaesthesia...

STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric radiostereometric analysis study. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the ability of five commonly used immobilizers to restrict cervical spine movement, including intervertebral movement, in three directions. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Evidence about the ability of many clinically used cervical immobilizers to restrict cervical movement is limited. Furthermore, their effect on intervertebral movement is unknown. METHODS: Radiographic inert beads were implanted in the cervical vertebral bodies of five fresh-frozen human cadavers...

BACKGROUND Among all spinal therapies, treatment of the cervical segment is the most difficult. The cervical segment is particularly sensitive to injuries and pain, and it also requires special care due to its great mobility and most delicate construction. The aim of this research was to evaluate analgesic efficacy and improvement of active mobility of the cervical spine after traction therapy with the Saunders device and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) immediately after therapy, and in short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up in patients with cervical spondylosis...

BACKGROUND: It is unknown how initial cervix location and cervical support resistance to traction, which we term "apical support stiffness," compare in women with different patterns of pelvic organ support. Defining a normal range of apical support stiffness is important to better understand the pathophysiology of apical support loss. OBJECTIVE: The aims of our study were to determine whether: (1) women with normal apical support on clinic Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification, but with vaginal wall prolapse (cystocele and/or rectocele), have the same intraoperative cervix location and apical support stiffness as women with normal pelvic support; and (2) all women with apical prolapse have abnormal intraoperative cervix location and apical support stiffness...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate and 1-year effects of a multimodal program, with cervical lordosis and anterior head translation (AHT) rehabilitation, on the intensity of pain, disability, and peripheral and central nervous system function in patients with discogenic cervical radiculopathy (CR). DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial with 1-year and 10-week follow-up. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=60; 27 men) with chronic discogenic CR, a defined hypolordotic cervical spine, and AHT posture were randomly assigned to a control group (n=30; mean age, 43...