Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Orthopaedic
Traction Methods
Mb . Ch B.
B. 5 & 6
I a n Ro b e rt s o n

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Skin Traction
Indications for Skin
Traction
Children
Tempory traction preoperative
pain

Skin Traction
Contraindications
Force required > 5kg
Skin damage or
sepsis in area

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Skin Traction
Dangers of Skin
Traction
Distal Oedema
Vascular obstruction
Peroneal nerve palsy
Skin
allergy
pressure points
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Femoral Traction
Gallows
Indications
Child < 12 kg
Femoral
fractures
Skin must be
intact

Femoral Traction
Older Child
Indications
Child > 12 kg
Femoral fractures
Skin must be intact

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

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Femoral Traction
Older Child

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Femur Fractures
Forces Displacing
Abducted

Psoas
Flexes

Adductors
Distal only
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Forces Displacing
Treatment
align
distal with proximal
= Flexion and Abduction

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Conservative Adult

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Conservative Adult
Denham Pin

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Conservative Adult
Denham Pin

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Cervical Traction
Halter

Halter - for short-term cervical traction

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Cervical Traction
Halter
Problems
Uncomfortable
Pain temperomandibular
Contraindicated in
mandible fractures
Difficult to control
flexion - extension
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Cervical Traction
Skeletal
Indications Cones
Calipers
Long term
cervical injuries
fractures
instability

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Cervical Traction
Skeletal
Direction and
Weights
Force - 2.5 kg head +
1/2 kg for each vertebra*
Direction Neutral- line
with Auditory meatus
Flexion needed - raise
pulley
Extension needed - use
double matress ending @
shoulders
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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Cervical Traction
Skeletal
Complications
Bleeding - temoral artery
Pressure sore on skull avoid downwards vector to
rope
Sepsis - from skin to
subural abscess
Worsening neurological
status
Squint from 6th nerve
fallout
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Cervical Traction
Skeletal
Contraindications
Children
Local sepsis
Skull fracture

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Cervical Traction
Skeletal
Reduction of
vertebrae

Locked facets etc

Load - serially up to 15
kg with neck flexed

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

Dunlop Traction
Supracondyalar
fractures in children
Allows swollen
elbow to settle
Contraindicated in
open fractures and
skin defects

Dunlop Traction

Backache

Pelvic traction for sciatica

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Orthopaedic Traction Methods

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