Preoperative skull tongs-femoral traction versus cotrel longitudinal traction for rigid and severe scoliosis: Cohort study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To compare two methods of preoperative traction (Cotrel traction exercises and skull tongs femoral traction) in severe scoliosis treatment. METHODS: We collected retrospective data of severe (>80°) and rigid scoliosis patients who underwent preoperative traction before correction surgery from 2016 to 2018. The first group consisted of patients who underwent Cotrel traction exercises and second group underwent continuous-progressively increasing Skull Tongs Femoral Traction (STFT) traction. Posterior fusion was performed in all patients. Intraoperative parameters (blood loss, operation time and level instrumented) and radiologic change (initial, post-traction and postoperative Cobb Angle) was evaluated and analyzed. RESULTS: ). No major/neurologic complication were found in our series. CONCLUSIONS: Both preoperative traction methods were found safe and beneficial to reduce preoperative curve degree before definitive scoliosis correction surgery. Although, no statistical difference were found between two methods, STFT may provide better correction rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.