Safety and Efficacy of an Atraumatic Uterine Cervical Traction Device: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Alignment of the uterine cervix with the vaginal canal is often required during insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). Currently available instruments are traumatic tenacula, which can cause pain and bleeding and represent an obstacle for certain patients to pursue their medical follow-up. A novel investigational cervical vacuum tenaculum, enables atraumatic traction of the cervix using a semi-circular suction pad, designed to conform to the anatomical shape of the external cervical os. Suction is generated by manually pulling out a sliding tube in a vacuum chamber.Methods: We performed a single arm non-comparative pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of the cervical vacuum tenaculum in 13 women receiving an IUD. Data on procedural efficacy, safety, patient-reported pain scores at specific time points during IUD insertion procedure and patient satisfaction were collected prospectively.Results: Insertion of IUD was successful with use of the study device in 7 of the 13 enrolled patients (54%). No bleeding or only limited ecchymosis were caused by the device. No adverse events were reported. Participants reported very little pain (mean Visual Analog Scale <10) when applying the device. Participants who achieved IUD insertion with the device reported strong overall satisfaction with the procedure.Conclusions: The suction-based atraumatic tenaculum can be used to manipulate the cervix during IUD insertion with satisfactory efficacy and safety. The results of this pilot study support further studies of this device in larger populations comparing with standard single-tooth tenaculum.Clinical Trial Registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT 04441333.

Traditional Chinese medicine therapies for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: A protocol for Bayesian network meta-analysis

Review question / Objective: P: Patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). I: The treatmen group will be treated with traditional Chinese medicine therapies (with/without additional treatment) including acupuncture of several types (acupuncture, acupoint sticking, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture and so on), massage, cervical traction, fire needle, traditional Chinese medicine hot compress, or their combination. No restrictions are imposed on length of the treatment period, times of treatment, and frequency of treatment. C: The traditional Chinese medicine therapies (with/without additional treatment) including acupuncture of several types (acupuncture, acupoint sticking, acupoint injection, electroacupuncture and so on), massage, cervical traction, fire needle, traditional Chinese medicine hot compress, or their combination will be included in this review. S: Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) will be included.

Extended tulip cervical reduction screws to restore alignment in traumatic atlantoaxial dislocation after type 3 odontoid fracture: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation after type 3 odontoid fracture is an uncommon presentation that may require complex intraoperative reduction maneuvers and presents challenges to successful instrumentation and fusion. OBSERVATIONS The authors report a case of a 39-year-old female patient who sustained a type 3 odontoid fracture. She was neurologically intact and managed in a rigid collar. Four months later, she presented again after a second trauma with acute torticollis and type 2 atlantoaxial subluxation, again neurologically intact. Serial cervical traction was placed with minimal radiographic reduction. Ultimately, she underwent intraoperative reduction, instrumentation, and fusion. Freehand C1 lateral mass reduction screws were placed, then C2 translaminar screws, and finally lateral mass screws at C3 and C4. The C2–4 instrumentation was used as bilateral rod anchors to reduce the C1 lateral mass reduction screws engaged onto the subluxated atlantodental complex. As a final step, cortical allograft spacers were inserted at C1–2 under compression to facilitate long-term stability and fusion. LESSONS This is the first description of a technique using extended tulip cervical reduction screws to correct traction-irreducible atlantoaxial subluxation. This case is a demonstration of using intraoperative tools available for the spine surgeon managing complex cervical injuries requiring intraoperative reduction that is resistant to traction reduction.

A combined approach for stabilization and endoscopic/ endonasal odontoid and clivus resection for treatment of basilar invagination

Background: Basilar invagination (BI) is a complex condition characterized by prolapse of the odontoid into the brain stem/upper cervical cord. This lesion is often associated with Chiari malformations, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Treatment options for BI typically include cervical traction, an isolated anterior transoral odontoidectomy, anterior endonasal odontoidectomy, an isolated posterior fusion, or combined anterior/ posterior surgical approach. Case Description: A 45-year-old female with a Chiari I malformation and RA underwent a combined posterior C0-C5 posterior decompression/fusion, followed by an anterior odontoidectomy (i.e. endoscopic/endonasal under neuronavigation). Postoperatively, the patient’s symptoms and neurological signs resolved. Conclusion: BI in was successfully managed with a combined posterior C0-C5 decompression/fusion followed by an anterior endoscopic/endonasal odontoidectomy performed under neuronavigation.

Atlantoaxial Rotary Subluxation in Marfan Syndrome

Atlantoaxial rotary subluxation (AARS) is a rare condition that may cause persistent torticollis if not treated appropriately. AARS is associated with ligamentous abnormalities, which may result from acquired or congenital disorders. We report the case of a paediatric patient with congenital Marfan syndrome and AARS due to a minor traumatic head injury. A 9-year-old boy with a known diagnosis of Marfan syndrome (and extensive family history) encountered a traumatic head injury that presented as torticollis with a typical “cock-robin” head and neck orientation. AARS was diagnosed through a head and neck CT scan. He underwent initial conservative treatment involving a muscle relaxant (diazepam) and Miami-J collar. This was followed up with manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) and further cervical traction, which resolved the subluxation without more invasive treatment. To the best of our knowledge, AARS associated with Marfan syndrome has been rarely reported in literature. It is postulated that the ligamentous laxity associated with Marfan syndrome would increase the patient’s predisposition to AARS and more importantly, the propensity to require more invasive treatment (internal fixation). However, our patient unexpectedly responded well to conservative management, namely MUA and cervical traction. This illustrates that despite the increased ligamentous laxity in Marfan syndrome, it is still advisable to conservatively manage AARS before deciding to perform invasive internal fixation.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue-2: 2021 Page: S15

Effect of an intensive cervical traction protocol on mid-term disability and pain in patients with cervical radiculopathy: An exploratory, prospective, observational pilot study

Background Cervical radiculopathy is a relatively common and disabling condition involving local pain in the neck region and pain that radiates into the upper limb. Recent data suggest that cervical traction may effectively reduce disability and pain, with a dose-response relationship. The main aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the mid-term effect of an intensive cervical traction protocol for patients with cervical radiculopathy on disability, and to compare the effects with those reported by non-intensive protocols in the literature. Methods We conducted a prospective open observational study of 36 patients referred by their general practitioner for symptoms suggestive of cervical radiculopathy. All patients underwent the same treatment: a 30-minute cervical traction protocol, twice a day, for five consecutive days. The main objective was the evaluation of disability at 3 months. We evaluated at baseline (D1), the end of the protocol (D5) and at mid-term (M3) disability, cervical pain, radiating pain, pain on motor imagery, presence of neuropathic pain and medication consumption. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients for whom the Neck Disability Index improved by more than the minimum clinically important difference of 7 points by M3. Results Thirty-six patients were included in this study. The Neck Disability Index improved by more than the minimum clinically important difference in 48.3% at M3. Mean Neck Disability Index (p < .001), mean cervical VAS (p < .001), mean radiating VAS (p < .001), and mean VAS for imagined lateral flexion and rotation (p < .002) improved significantly from D1 to D5 and from D1 to M3. Consumption of medication reduced at each time point. The proportion of patients with neuropathic pain reduced from 61.1% at D1 to 33.3% at D5 and 48.3% at M3. Conclusion Disability reduced by more than the minimum clinically important difference in almost half of the participants following the intensive traction protocol. These results are encouraging and suggest that this complex condition can be treated with relatively simple methods.

Effect Of Cupping Massage and Modified Spinal Decompression Therapy With Exercise Therapy in Neck Radiculopathy Syndrome

Cervical radiculopathy Syndrome (CRS) is a common neuro-musculo-skeletal disorder causing pain and disability. Manual therapy interventions including cervical traction with other treatment modalities have been advocated to decrease pain and disability caused by cervical radiculopathy (CR). Al-Qudah & AL-Jazzazi (2021) conducted a new method of Spinal Decompression Therapy (SDT) in patients with Chronic Lumbar Disc Herniation (CLDH) which includes Combination of Lumbar Traction With Cervical Traction (CLTCT) as one intervention. Despite of that this new method clinically reduces pain and disability more effectively than the conventional types of Traction, CLTCT method was not previously used in CR patients nor with Cervical Disc Herniation (CDH). The clinical effectiveness of this new method with other treatment modalities in patients with CRS was not approved yet. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the presented work is to identify the effectiveness of rehabilitative program on patients with Cervical Radiculopathy, by (15) sessions for (4) Weeks. The suggested Rehabilitative program consisted of: 1.Supine Soft Full Back, Shoulders and Neck Cupping Massage (CM) for (10) minutes, 2.CLTCT: Combined Lumbar Traction with Cervical Traction as one intervention for (20) minutes, 3.Gradual Therapeutic Exercise Package of Neck Stretching and Strengthening Exercise for approximately (15) minutes. METHODS: In this study, Five outdoor male patients had accepted to participate and were randomly chosen from Al-Karak Governmental Hospital, All subjects applied the proposed rehabilitative program. The results were analyzed using the SPSS system. RESULTS: indicates that there was statistically significant difference between the pre and post measurements in favor of the post measurements in terms of Pain, Disability. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that the use of proposed rehabilitative program has a positive effect on patients with Cervical Radiculopathy.