Radiographic Analysis of Intervertebral Separation With a 0° and 30° Rope Angle Using the Saunders Cervical Traction Device

Abstract

Radiographic analysis of cervical intervertebral separation, (IVS) while using the Saunders Cervical Traction Device (SCTD) (Chattanooga Corp., Chattanooga, TN) on a healthy population. To determine whether a rope angle of 0 degrees or 30 degrees achieves higher posterior and anterior IVS when using the SCTD. To our knowledge, research using a 0 degrees rope angle and the SCTD has not been documented. A convenience sample of 15 females and 5 males, with no history of cervical dysfunction, trauma, or pain, participated in the study. Static mechanical cervical traction, using the SCTD at a 0 degrees rope angle, was applied for 2 minutes using 11.34 kg (25 lb) of force. A cross-table lateral cervical spine radiograph was obtained before traction and again at 2 minutes of traction. Two weeks later, the subjects underwent the same procedure with the rope angle set at 30 degrees . A 0 degrees rope angle produced a significant mean difference in anterior IVS at all cervical segments as compared to a 30 degrees rope angle. Traction measurements comparing posterior IVS at 0 degrees and 30 degrees were not statistically significant. However, the posterior IVS increased significantly at a 0 degrees rope angle, with the exception of C2-C3. The research findings may have treatment implications when applying cervical traction with the SCTD. Further research using subjects with cervical nerve root compression will need to be conducted to substantiate clinical outcomes.