To determine the role of preoperative traction in the treatment of
spinal curves, ten patients with curves averaging 81 degrees by the Cobb
measurement were studied. Each patient was treated in traction by means of
a halo or skull tongs and femoral pins for two to three weeks prior to the
surgical correction of the scoliosis with instrumentation. Weights were
added to the traction apparatus, 1.8 kilograms a day, to a maximum of 18.1
kilograms. Pretraction supine roentgenograms were compared with supine
roentgenograms made at three-day intervals throughout the traction period.
Preoperative traction resulted in an average improvement of the curves of
34 degrees, or 41 per cent of the initial curve. Most of the correction was
obtained within the first week of traction. Further correction during
surgery with Harrington instrumentation yielded 13.5 degrees on the average
(16 per cent) so that combined correction averaged 47 degrees, or 57 per
cent.