Halo pelvic traction. A preliminary report on a method of external skeletal fixation for correcting deformities and maintaining fixation of the spine.

We believe that head-pelvic skeletal traction was first attempted in 1958 by one of us (A. R. H.). With the description of the “halo” skull traction apparatus by Perry and Nickel (1959), a method was provided for immobilising the unstable cervical spine. From this developed “halo-femoral” traction, now used by some surgeons for the correction of spinal deformities before and after operation. However, this technique has several disadvantages; it provides imperfect control should the spine be unstable and, of necessity, involves immobilisation of the patient in bed. There is also the potential danger that excessive traction may cause dislocation and other lesions of the hip, particularly if its muscles are paralysed. For some years it has seemed that head-pelvic fixation would be the ideal method of external traction and fixation for gaining controlled correction of the deformed spine. Perry was the first to attempt “pelvic halo” traction. Levine (1969) used “skull halo-pelvic halo” fixation to correct the pelvic obliquity after operation in a nine-year-old boy with severe congenital scoliosis. A significant contribution has recently been made by DeWald and Ray (1970) with their description of the “University of Illinois halo hoop apparatus” which they used in treating four patients with severe scoliosis.