Abstract

• Halo-vest apparatus has the mechanical advantages that provides immediate cervical stabilization and can afford the diagnostic work-up for the acute cervical spine injuried patients, and does not interfere with MRI test. Furthermore, we can take the reduction of the dislocation by controlling it in any plane.
  Especially it is effective in conseuative treatment in upper cervical lesion without neurologic deficit or patient with high risk of operation.
  We put on the Halo-vest apparatus in seventeen patients with cervical spine lesion. There were fifteen cases of fracture-dislocation, one case of pathologic fracture, and one case of tuberculous spondylitis. The lesion site were upper ceuical in ten cases and others were lower cervical lesion. Three cases were undergone surgical intervention and were fixed with Halo-vest apparstus for further stabilization. We could get the external fixation for the unstable cervical lesion after several segment fusion. Initial immobilization were undertaken with Gardner well tong, Halter or Halo treation for 1.6 weeks in average. They were changed to Halo-vest apparatus for further immobilization and concomitant ambulation. Halo-vest apparatus were put on for 10.2 weeks to get solid bony union. After then other conventional brace were worn such as neck collar,S.0.M.I., four-poster or Philadelphia brace.
  The complications were one case of pin loosening, and three cases of pin tract infection.
• Key words: Cervical spine, Acute instability, immobilizer, Halo-vest

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