ABSTRACT
[Objective]To sum up the experience of wearing the halo pelvic and level traction costoplasty to treat 35 cases of severe scoliosis combined with collapsed chest. [Methods]When scoliosis of patients were corrected to a certain degree after three weeks of halo pelvic distraction, the most serious collapsed ribs of concave side of the curve underwent a transverse incision the cross ribs. A special rib bender was used to bend the exposed 3 to 6 ribs. The bent ribs were pulled up by double-stranded 10# thick silk which was extended out through the skin and fixed in the upright post of the instrument of Halo pelvic distraction with rubber membranes.[Results]Thirty-three in 35 patients underwent costoplasty. The collapsed chest was turned round, respiratory function improved significantly and cyanosis of lips and nail bed disappeared. These offered advantages for next scoliosis correction.Two patients failed to undergo costoplasty due toprimary pulmonary atelectasis and pulmonary deficiency.[Conclusion]The instrument of Halo pelvic distraction is a good and convenient fixed point. Bending and turning round ribs can provide a convenient condition for recovery of collapsed chest. Halo pelvic distraction can be used not only for scoliosis correction but also for costoplasty.