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Evaluation of outpatient halo-gravity traction in patients with severe scoliosis: development of a monitoring device

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Abstract

Introduction

Patients with severe spinal deformities represent a major clinical and surgical challenge. Halo-gravity traction (HGT) is a traditional method to correct the deformity prior to surgery. Typically, children undergoing HGT remain in the hospital until surgery. Therefore, it has been suggested to treat these children at lower level healthcare centers or even at home. The aim of this study was to develop a tool to assess patient adherence to HGT together with a program to analyze traction results.

Materials and methods

An original recording system was designed with an Arduino Nano®. The data extracted from the memory card were compiled into a text file and then analyzed with the MatLab R2018a MathWorks®.

Results

Five patients receiving HGT for severe scoliosis were asked to use the device both in the wheelchair and in bed to evaluate its usefulness.

Conclusions

A device was developed to monitor the use of HGT at home. The device provides information on the time of HGT use and the traction weight placed throughout the day, as well as on the correct functioning of the system in bed and in the wheelchair.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Sofía Frank, upon reasonable request.

References

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Funding

No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript. Sofía Frank, Carlos A Tello, Eduardo Galaretto, Leandro N Pereyra, Lucas Piantoni, Rodrigo G Remondino, Boris A Falconi, Mariano A Noël have no funds, grants, or other support was received. Evaluation of Outpatient Halo-Gravity Traction in Patients with Severe Scoliosis: development of a Monitoring Device.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Patología Espinal, Hospital de Pediatría Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan, Combate de los Pozos 1881. C1245AAM. CABA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sofía Frank, Lucas Piantoni, Carlos A. Tello, Rodrigo G. Remondino, Eduardo Galaretto, Boris A. Falconi, Leandro N. Pereyra & Mariano A. Noël

Authors
  1. Sofía Frank
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  2. Lucas Piantoni
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  3. Carlos A. Tello
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  4. Rodrigo G. Remondino
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  5. Eduardo Galaretto
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  6. Boris A. Falconi
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  7. Leandro N. Pereyra
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  8. Mariano A. Noël
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Contributions

Design of study: SF, LNP, BF, LP, CAT, RR, MN. Consulting references: SF, LNP, LP, EG. Participation in draft manuscript: SF, LNP, CAT, LP, MN, EG. Revise manuscript: SF, LNP, CAT, RR, MN. Approved the final version of the paper: SF, BF, LNP, LP, CAT, RR, EG, MN.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sofía Frank.

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IRB

The study was approved by the hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB), because of the retrospective observational nature of the study IRB waived the informed consent.

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Frank, S., Piantoni, L., Tello, C.A. et al. Evaluation of outpatient halo-gravity traction in patients with severe scoliosis: development of a monitoring device. Spine Deform 11, 351–357 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-022-00623-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-022-00623-4

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