Figure 19a. Halo vest and brace. (a, b) Frontal (a) and lateral (b) views of a halo vest and brace. Four metallic uprights connect the halo ring around the skull to the vest. (c, d) Frontal (c) and lateral (d) radiographs of the skull show head tongs used to stabilize the head and neck in a patient with a cervical spine fracture. One or more screws penetrate the outer table of the skull on each side. They are connected to each other by horizontal or vertical bars on each side that are attached to an external traction device.