title: Cervical neurofibromatosis with tetraplegia: management by cervical suspensory traction.
abstract: METHODS
  A case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe a new method called "cervical suspensory traction" and to report its effect in the treatment of severe cervical kyphotic deformity with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1) in a teenager.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cervical kyphotic deformity exceeding 100° due to NF-1 is a challenging surgical problem. Surgery alone may result in poor corrective efficiency, too long range of fusion, sacrificing more mobile segments.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-year-old teenager with NF-1 presented with tetraplegia. Radiographs of the cervical spine revealed that kyphotic deformity of C3-C6 was 125°. Spinal release surgery was undertaken in advance, followed by cervical suspensory traction and subsequent posterior instrumentation and fusion surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a 4-year follow-up, the patient made a full neurological recovery. Cervical curve of C3-C6 was improved with a residual kyphosis of 30°. Stable bone fusion was obtained in the lower cervical spine. No complication had occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cervical suspensory traction is a viable and safe adjunct technique for applying gradual and sustained effort to maximize postoperative correction in the treatment of NF-1 patients with severely rigid and large curves. This report should contribute to expanding the alternative method for the staged treatment strategy to complex abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fengliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongjun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shenglin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome