Incisor Diastasis Associated With Halo Traction in an Osteogenesis Imperfecta Patient: Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Scoliosis is a known manifestation of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), which is characteristically severe in nature and interferes with the general health of these patients. Halo gravity traction (HGT) has been advocated as a preoperative treatment modality to ease the surgical risk while managing these patients with such fragile spines. Application of HGT to this patient population in itself carries a risk.

PURPOSE: The authors report an unusual complication of transient incisor diastasis in a patient with OI and scoliosis who was placed in perioperative HGT as a stage of scoliosis management.

RESULTS

The patient had a posterior instrumentation and spinal fusion for the scoliosis and the diastasis resolved after HGT removal.

CONCLUSIONS

Although HGT is a valuable preoperative option in the management of scoliosis in OI patients, it is necessary to assess the patient frequently for both common and rare complications of this procedure.