Muscle atrophy after treatment with Halovest.
METHODS
A prospective study was conducted on the sequential changes in the muscles around the cervical spine following external fixation for an extended period.


OBJECTIVE
Muscular atrophy around the cervical spine following prolonged external fixation with a Halovest and subsequent recovery from the atrophy were examined.


BACKGROUND
There are a number of reports on the usefulness of the Halovest. However, there have been no descriptions about muscular atrophy following fixation by the Halovest.


METHODS
The study participants were 10 patients who were conservatively treated by the Halovest. Imaging by CT was performed periodically following fixation by the Halovest. The cross sections of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the nuchal muscle group at C5-C6 were computed by using NIH Image Software. The results were used to evaluate muscular atrophy following fixation by the Halovest and the subsequent recovery after removal of the fixation.


RESULTS
Following fixation by the Halovest, atrophy of the muscles around cervical spine sequentially progressed. Three months after fixation, muscular atrophy was about 15% at the sternocleidomastoid muscle and 22% for the nuchal muscle group, but the patients recovered from the atrophic state following the removal of the device.


CONCLUSIONS
Following fixation by the Halovest, muscular atrophy around the cervical spine sequentially progressed. After the device was removed, however, the muscles recovered from the atrophic state. Muscular atrophy caused by prolonged fixation by the Halovest was a reversible change.
Ono
Atsushi
A
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aomori Rosai Hospital, Aomori, Japan. atsu-ono@triton.ocn.ne.jp
Amano
Masahumi
M
Okamura
Yoshihisa
Y
Numazawa
Takuya
T
Ueyama
Kazumasa
K
Nishikawa
Shinji
S
Toh
Satoshi
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001915:Braces / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome