Aa
cervical traction
Hi everybody.. Does anyone know about invasive cervical traction with floroscopic guidance procedure? I am having this done is 8 days at TCI per their suggestion. If anyone has had this done I would appreciate any feedback you have on it... thanks! Michelle
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had the decompression surgery, I have not had the CCI dealt with as of yet....but I did go to TCI in NY when Dr B was there so he was in the OR during my surgery, but not my surgeon.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
So very sorry I missed your post....does your hubby have Chiari? Or just need to have the cervical traction study?
In my case it was the NS (neurosurgeon ) that does this test....
1 Comments
He does have Chiari and has to have test to check CCI. Where you have yours done? Closest to us is NY with Dr. Bolognese.
COMMUNITY LEADER
HI...I just got home from TCI and this was suggested to me also....it is bcuz I also had a dx from them of EDS- Ehlers Danlos syndrome.They usually describe it like ur head is a pumpkin on top of a pointed stick...it can only remain up on top for so long b4 sliding down....this testing see's at what point the symptoms are relieved, so then when a fusion is done it places everything where u will have the least amount of symptoms.And ur head is no longer sliding down putting additional pressure on ur spinal cord.
A halo is used that have pins in it to "grab" a hold of ur head....this should not hurt....I have a friend that had this done and she assures me...it did not hurt.I must agree tho it is a bit scary.
Hope this adds to what Dawn was nice enuff to research : )
"selma"
A halo is used that have pins in it to "grab" a hold of ur head....this should not hurt....I have a friend that had this done and she assures me...it did not hurt.I must agree tho it is a bit scary.
Hope this adds to what Dawn was nice enuff to research : )
"selma"
1 Comments
My husband has to get this done. How did it go? Who actually performs this ? A neurologists?
Hi Michelle,
I had never heard of this procedure before but decided to look it up and this is what I have found.
I am assuming you didn't have chiari surgery yet and that is why they are running this test. I hope someone else with more knowledge on this will chime in here. Please keep us up to date on your testing.. Dawn
Invasive Cervical Traction Under Fluoroscopic Guidance for Closed
Reduction of the Odontoid Process
Invasive cervical traction (ICT) is a definitive test for establishing the diagnosis of
craniocervical instability with functional cranial settling. Currently available
radiographic studies including cervical MRI and flexion/extension X-rays are not
sufficient to make the diagnosis. Typical candidates for ICT are patients with
symptoms and signs of lower brainstem dysfunction occurring in association with
the following conditions: failed Chiari surgery; hereditary disorders of connective
tissue (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, MASS phenotype, Marfans syndrome);
rheumatoid arthritis; osseous disorders of the craniocervical junction; and
posttraumatic whiplash injuries.
Technique: ICT is performed in the operating room under strict medical
supervision. Patients are anesthetized briefly using MAC and cranial tongs and
implanted under local anesthesia. After awakening, the patient is placed in a
sitting position in a hospital bed with an overhead frame and a pulley system.
The head is extracted upon the neck in neutral position with 5o extension using
graduated weights under fluoroscopic guidance. With each 5 lb. increment, the
patient’s presenting symptoms, neurological findings, and fluoroscopic anatomy
of the craniocervical junction are recorded and entered into a database. Patients
with highly positive ICT tests typically experience a complete relief of symptoms
and signs at a specific extraction weight that correlates with anatomic findings
such as reduction of the odontoid tip within the ring of C1 and reduction of the C1
arch below the base of the skull that can be measured precisely.
Objective: The goals of ICT are as follows: (1) to establish or rule out the
diagnosis of craniocervical instability with functional cranial settling; (2) to identify
patients who do not require craniocervical fusion, thereby avoiding an
unnecessary surgical step; (3) to identify patients who are potential candidates
for craniocervical fusion - in extraction and (4) to acquire precise radiographic
and extraction weight measurements that can be reproduced at the time of the
craniocervical fusion to maximize the likelihood of optimal outcome. It is TCI
policy that all patients with clinical suspicion of craniocervical instability/functional
cranial settling undergo ICT prior to surgery.
I had never heard of this procedure before but decided to look it up and this is what I have found.
I am assuming you didn't have chiari surgery yet and that is why they are running this test. I hope someone else with more knowledge on this will chime in here. Please keep us up to date on your testing.. Dawn
Invasive Cervical Traction Under Fluoroscopic Guidance for Closed
Reduction of the Odontoid Process
Invasive cervical traction (ICT) is a definitive test for establishing the diagnosis of
craniocervical instability with functional cranial settling. Currently available
radiographic studies including cervical MRI and flexion/extension X-rays are not
sufficient to make the diagnosis. Typical candidates for ICT are patients with
symptoms and signs of lower brainstem dysfunction occurring in association with
the following conditions: failed Chiari surgery; hereditary disorders of connective
tissue (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, MASS phenotype, Marfans syndrome);
rheumatoid arthritis; osseous disorders of the craniocervical junction; and
posttraumatic whiplash injuries.
Technique: ICT is performed in the operating room under strict medical
supervision. Patients are anesthetized briefly using MAC and cranial tongs and
implanted under local anesthesia. After awakening, the patient is placed in a
sitting position in a hospital bed with an overhead frame and a pulley system.
The head is extracted upon the neck in neutral position with 5o extension using
graduated weights under fluoroscopic guidance. With each 5 lb. increment, the
patient’s presenting symptoms, neurological findings, and fluoroscopic anatomy
of the craniocervical junction are recorded and entered into a database. Patients
with highly positive ICT tests typically experience a complete relief of symptoms
and signs at a specific extraction weight that correlates with anatomic findings
such as reduction of the odontoid tip within the ring of C1 and reduction of the C1
arch below the base of the skull that can be measured precisely.
Objective: The goals of ICT are as follows: (1) to establish or rule out the
diagnosis of craniocervical instability with functional cranial settling; (2) to identify
patients who do not require craniocervical fusion, thereby avoiding an
unnecessary surgical step; (3) to identify patients who are potential candidates
for craniocervical fusion - in extraction and (4) to acquire precise radiographic
and extraction weight measurements that can be reproduced at the time of the
craniocervical fusion to maximize the likelihood of optimal outcome. It is TCI
policy that all patients with clinical suspicion of craniocervical instability/functional
cranial settling undergo ICT prior to surgery.
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