ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical curative effect of the modified Halo pelvic frame and surgery for the treatment of severe scoliosis with rigidity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2004 to May 2010,50 patients with severe scoliosis patients with rigidity were treated in our hospital. Twenty-three patients were male and 27 patients were female, with a mean age of 10.8 years old, ranging from 4 to 16 years. Twenty-four patients were congenital scoliosis and 26 patiens were idiopathic scoliosis. The mean body height were (152.1 +/- 11.1) cm and the average Cobb angle of scoliosis and kyphosis were (91.8 +/- 14.5) degrees and (69.5 +/- 14.0) degrees respectively. All the patients were treated with three-stages modified Halo pelvic traction, the second stage anterior release and the third stage posterior correction. The amount of correction was determined by measuring the change of body height, the Cobb angles and correction rate of scoliosis as well as kyphosis before and after the operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean body height were correct to (158.5 +/- 10.5) cm. The average Cobb angle of scoliosis were correct to (30.8 +/- 7.9) degrees. The average Cobb angle of kyphosis were correct to (31.6 +/- 10.1) degrees. After the first stage, the average Cobb angle of scoliosis and kyphosis were changed with the mean of (30.4 +/- 6.6)% correction and (22.3 +/- 5.2)% respectively; after the second stage, the average Cobb angle of scoliosis and kyphosis were changed with the mean (26.7 -/+ 5.1)% correction and (21.2 -/+ 6.0)% respectively; the third stage, above data were (33.7 -/+ 7.2)% and (27.1 +/- 5.3)%. Correction rate of scoliosis and kyphosis were (66.5 +/- 7.2)% and (55.1 +/- 6.4)% respectively by the modified Halo pelvic frame traction and surgery. Body height, the Cobb angles and correction rate of scoliosis and kyphosis on radiographs were different in all stages (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Operative complications of severe scoliosis with rigidity can be reduced and better deformity correction and trunk balance achieved by the modified Halo pelvic frame traction and surgery.</p>