Do the kids lie in bed the entire time?
Absolutely not. The only time they are in bed is to sleep,
take a nap or rest. Otherwise the
patients in traction are kept busy and upright.
If patients are in bed they will not get the maximal benefit from the
traction, so the more they are out of bed the better. During the day patients use a walker with the
traction apparatus attached, so they can move around as they desire.
take a nap or rest. Otherwise the
patients in traction are kept busy and upright.
If patients are in bed they will not get the maximal benefit from the
traction, so the more they are out of bed the better. During the day patients use a walker with the
traction apparatus attached, so they can move around as they desire.
What will the kids do for activities for time they are in
traction?
traction?
In general the kids are kept busy by nurses, therapists,
hospital volunteers, and family. Since
they are mobile the kids go to the physical and occupational therapy departments,
where they work with pediatric therapists on strength and range of motion. They participate in yoga and walk on a
treadmill for aerobic conditioning, while still in traction! The remainder of the days are spent in various
activities, especially in recreational therapy.
hospital volunteers, and family. Since
they are mobile the kids go to the physical and occupational therapy departments,
where they work with pediatric therapists on strength and range of motion. They participate in yoga and walk on a
treadmill for aerobic conditioning, while still in traction! The remainder of the days are spent in various
activities, especially in recreational therapy.
How much improvement will we see in the spine deformity?
The amount of correction depends on many factors, from patient
age, coexisting medical conditions, deformity magnitude, previous spine
surgeries, location of the deformity, etc……. We see an average of 35% of
correction. More correction is great,
but even if there is less correction on radiographs, halo-gravity traction can
still be beneficial.
age, coexisting medical conditions, deformity magnitude, previous spine
surgeries, location of the deformity, etc……. We see an average of 35% of
correction. More correction is great,
but even if there is less correction on radiographs, halo-gravity traction can
still be beneficial.
Before Halo-Gravity Traction After 6 weeks of traction
126 degrees 93 degrees
After spine fusion
39 degrees
When is the halo removed?
As mentioned in a previous blog, the halo is placed under general
anesthesia initially. When the patient
undergoes the next surgical procedures (growing rods, Shilla, fusion, etc…) the
halo is used during the surgery for safe positioning. At the completion of surgery, but before the
patient is awake, the halo is removed.
Small Band-Aids are placed over the eyebrows.
anesthesia initially. When the patient
undergoes the next surgical procedures (growing rods, Shilla, fusion, etc…) the
halo is used during the surgery for safe positioning. At the completion of surgery, but before the
patient is awake, the halo is removed.
Small Band-Aids are placed over the eyebrows.
What happens after the halo is removed?
After removal the places where the pins were placed into the
skull gradually heal. Obviously the ones
placed on the back of the skull are hidden by hair. The pin sites over the eyebrows also slowly
heal and leave a very small scar, which most people cannot see.
skull gradually heal. Obviously the ones
placed on the back of the skull are hidden by hair. The pin sites over the eyebrows also slowly
heal and leave a very small scar, which most people cannot see.