Efficacy of Halo-Gravity Traction in the Perioperative Treatment of Severe Scoliosis and Kyphosis: A Comparison of Adolescent and Adult Patients

The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of halo-gravity traction (HGT) with subsequent surgical treatment in adolescent and adult patients with severe scoliosis by evaluating the radiographic outcomes and clinical complications. We performed a retrospective analysis of 51 patients with severe scoliosis who underwent a posterior spinal instrumented fusion with HGT during the perioperative period between March 2010 and June 2017. The patients were divided into 2 groups: adults (age >18 years) and adolescents (age 10–18 years). All patients were followed with full posteroanterior and lateral spine radiographs, bending films, neurological complications, and lung function tests for a minimum of 2 years. Deformity correction, pulmonary function testing, and clinical complications were compared between the 2 groups. We identified 29 adults (8 males and 21 females, mean age = 23.7 ± 8.7 years) and 22 adolescents (10 males and 12 females, mean age = 13.0 ± 4.5 years). In the adult group, the mean Cobb angle of the main curve before HGT was 141.7 ± 18.2°, which improved to 126.4 ± 8.6° and 67.5 ± 10.2° after traction and operation, respectively. The kyphotic angle was corrected from 137.1 ± 15.6° before traction to 122.5 ± 11.3° after traction to 67.6 ± 13.8° after operation. The mean functional vital capacity% and forced expiratory volume in one second% were 43.1% and 37.5%, which improved to 46.7% and 41.7% after traction, respectively. In the adolescent group, the mean correction of the main curve improved from 139.3 ± 12.6° before traction to 112.1 ± 8.3° after traction to 59 ± 13.1° after surgical intervention. The kyphotic angle was corrected from 130.7 ± 9.4° before traction to 101.5 ± 12.2° after traction and then to 48.2 ± 10.1° after surgical intervention. Overall, patients in both groups showed significant improvement in their main scoliosis and kyphosis (P < 0.05), while the correction rate of the main curve and kyphosis was significantly higher in the adolescent group than that in the adult group (P < 0.05). The functional vital capacity% increased from 44.8% to 55.0% and the forced expiratory volume in one second% increased from 44.0% to 51.0% after using HGT. In terms of surgical outcomes, the incidence of postoperative neurological complications was 27.6% and 18.2% in the 2 groups, respectively. HGT is an effective and safe method to correct spinal deformities and improve lung function, especially in adolescent patients with severe sco