Pin-site myiasis: a rare complication of halo orthosis

Study design: Case report. Objective: To report a rare complication following halo placement for cervical fracture. Setting: United States University Teaching Hospital. Case report: A 39-year-old woman who sustained a spinal cord injury from a C6–7 fracture underwent halo placement. She subsequently...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Spinal cord 2005-11, Vol.43 (11), p.684-686
Main Authors: Park, P, Lodhia, K R, Eden, S V, Lewandrowski, K-U, McGillicuddy, J E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anatomy
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Bone Nails - adverse effects
case-report
Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord
Chromosome fragility (bloom syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia, fanconi anemia, x-linked mental retardation...)
Diptera
Errors of metabolism
Female
Human Physiology
Humans
Infection - etiology
Lipids (lysosomal enzyme disorders, storage diseases)
Medical genetics
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Myiasis - etiology
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurochemistry
Neurology
Neuropsychology
Neurosciences
Orthotic Devices - adverse effects
Spinal Cord Injuries - complications
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Summary:Study design: Case report. Objective: To report a rare complication following halo placement for cervical fracture. Setting: United States University Teaching Hospital. Case report: A 39-year-old woman who sustained a spinal cord injury from a C6–7 fracture underwent halo placement. She subsequently developed an infection adjacent to the right posterior pin, which then became infected with Diptera larvae (maggots), necessitating removal of the pin and debridement of the wound site. Conclusion: Halo orthosis continues to be an effective means of immobilizing the cervical spine. Incidence of complications ranges from 6.4 to 36.0% of cases. Commonly reported complications include pin-site infection, pin penetration, pin loosening, pressure sores, nerve injury, bleeding, and head ring migration. Pin-site myiasis is rare, with no known reports found in the literature. Poor pin-site care by the patient and her failure to keep follow-up appointments after development of the initial infection likely contributed to the development of this complication.
ISSN:1362-4393
1476-5624
DOI:10.1038/sj.sc.3101773