title: Brain abscess: a rare complication of halo usage.
abstract: The halo traction device for cervical spine immobilization has few complications and is routinely used for spinal cord injured patients. The following case report describes a patient with lower cervical and upper thoracic fractures stabilized with a halo. She completed a two-month rehabilitation program without complications, but developed frontal headaches and vomiting within one or two days of discharge. A head CT revealed a right frontal isodense mass consistent with a brain abscess. The abscess was resected surgically, and she was placed on antibiotics. Mortality rates from brain abscesses are as high as 24%, making a prompt diagnosis critical. This case report describes an unusual etiology for a brain abscess, and it discusses the appropriate work-up in a neurologically impaired patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Nelms
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McGaharan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D003399:Craniotomy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014143:Traction / Q000009:adverse effects*