Biomechanical study of the deformed spine treated by Chiba University-type halo-pelvic distraction apparatus.
Nineteen patients treated by halo-pelvic distraction apparatus were studied. As the treatment proceeded, the distraction (tractive) load increased serially. Some relaxation was noted each morning. However, the time needed for relaxation increased and the amount of relaxation decreased sequentially. A new parameter, relaxation rate, was thus introduced. When this rate approached zero, adverse symptoms and signs appeared in the majority of the cases. The relaxation rate is concluded as a good indicator for continuing or terminating distraction. A second part of the study included tensile tests using animal spines. The viscoelastic relaxation characteristics correlated well with the clinical studies.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014783:Viscosity