When a patient with an unstable C2 fracture needs to be mobilized—not just lying flat for eight weeks hoping the fragments don’t shift, but actually sitting up, maybe even walking—the halo vest is the bridge between surgical fixation and complete immobilization. I’ve supplied the AM-TJ003 to trauma centers where spine surgeons want their patients out of bed by post-op day two, and to rehabilitation units where the goal is to get a cervical injury patient vertical before the deconditioning sets in. The halo vest doesn’t heal the fracture. But it creates the stable mechanical environment where healing can happen, and that’s a different kind of medicine entirely.
The AM-TJ003 consists of three integrated components: the cranial traction ring, the connecting rod assembly, and the thoracic vest. The ring encircles the skull and is secured by four cranial pins that apply calibrated, symmetrical pressure to the outer table of the skull. The pins are inserted under local anesthesia by the surgeon—usually two anterior pins in the frontal region and two posterior pins in the occipital region—and torqued to specification. The ring material is available in carbon fiber, polyether ketone, or pure titanium depending on imaging requirements; titanium is MRI-compatible, carbon fiber is radiolucent for CT and cervical spine X-rays, and polyether ketone splits the difference on weight and cost.
The connecting rods form a rigid bridge from the ring down to the vest. The rods are aluminum alloy with adjustable length via threaded connectors, and the U-shaped clamps at each junction point allow the surgeon to set the precise angle of cervical fixation—neutral, slight flexion, slight extension—depending on the fracture pattern and reduction goals. The vest itself is made from ABS plastic slabs lined with padded nylon strapping. It wraps around the thorax and secures with Velcro straps that distribute pressure evenly across the chest and upper back, preventing pressure sores at contact points. The entire assembly weighs approximately 3 to 4 kg depending on ring material choice, which is light enough for a patient to tolerate during prolonged wear.
Clinical indications cover cervical fracture dislocation, cervical deformity requiring external stabilization, unstable occipitocervical junction injuries, and post-operative stabilization following cervical instrumentation. The halo vest allows patients who would otherwise be confined to strict bed rest—with all the attendant risks of DVT, pneumonia, pressure ulcers, and muscle wasting—to be mobilized safely.
If your orthopedic or neurosurgical spine service manages cervical trauma patients who need external stabilization, the AM-TJ003 is worth evaluating. I stock these in Shanghai with multiple ring material options. Contact me with your typical case volume and I’ll help you determine the right configuration.
