Shoulder traction device for enhanced conventional fluoroscopy during cervical spine operations.

Conventional biplanar fluoroscopic imaging of the cervical spine is commonly used during cervical spinal surgery. We designed an intraoperative traction device to prevent shoulder superimposition on the cervical fluoroscopic imaging. During surgery at the stage of fluoroscopic examination, an operator can apply traction via the traction band of the device. This device is safe and easy to use, and can be preoperatively fitted to patients. Fluoroscopic images obtained with the new traction device were definitely superior compared with images obtained without the traction device. This device may be useful in cases with difficult fluoroscopic imagination of the lower cervical spine.