Tariq Salahud Din.
Internal fixation of the spine, the Hartshill system.
Professional Med J Jan ;3(1):59-62.

Internal fixation of spine is commonly performed in traumatic, tubercular, neoplastic and congenital spinal lesions. OBJECTIVES: To find out an economical and simple method of spinal fixation for unstable and painful spinal disorders. DESIGN: Case study. SETTING: Department of Neurosugery Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad. PERIOD: Jan 1991 to Dec 1994. SUBJECTS:: 45 patients (32 males and 13 females) of age range between 20-62 years. METHOD: Surgical spinal fixation with Hartshill system. The Hartshill system is a modification of the Luque posterior segmental wiring of the spine. RESULTS: 75% of patient had excellent pain relief and 50% of these patients could walk with or without support within nine weeks of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The cost of equipment is Rs. 1500 only. The patients could be mobilized within a short period following surgery. Imaging system is not required during the Hartshill fixation. A series of 45 cases with a minimum of one year follow up using the Hartshill system for the internal fixation of unstable spine (cervical 12, thoracic 6, thoracolumbar 22, and lumbar 5) is presented.

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