The pre-surgical role of halo-traction in patients with cervical infection associated with refractory kyphosis. A retrospective study

Abstract To minimize surgical complications and staged procedures halo-traction is often used during deformity corrections. But the use of halo-traction in the treatment of rigid cervical kyphosis secondary to infections with abscesses has never been reported. This study investigated the role of halo-traction in the treatment of cervical infection patients associated with refractory kyphosis. We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients with cervical infection associated with refractory kyphosis who were treated in our spine department. Patients were divided into two groups, the traction group (A) and the non-traction group (B). Group A underwent preoperative halo-traction followed by surgery, while group B underwent surgery alone. Between the two groups, we analyzed the kyphosis deformity correction, level of fusions, disease clearing rate by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), pain improvement by Oswestry disability index (ODI), and complications. Group A had a better correction of kyphosis deformity compared to group B (10.26±3.61)0 versus（12.24± 2.4)0 (P=0.04) ). No statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of disease-clearing rate, pain improvement, level of fusion, and complications. Preoperative halo-traction followed by surgery is superior in kyphosis correction in the treatment of patients with cervical infections with refractory kyphosis.