SKIN TRACTION

Question 1

IN WHICH CASES IS SKIN TRACTION INDICATED?

Answer 1

Indications for skin traction
1) Extreme of age
 Children between 3 to 18 years (longitudinal bone growth may be arrest)
 Old people- fragile bones
2) Those reacting to pin
3) Fixed flexion deformity
4) Fractures
 Shaft of femur #s
 Intertrochanteric #s
 Upper femoral epiphysis separation
 An unstable hip after reduction of a dislocation

Question 2

LIST THE TYPES OF SKIN TRACTION

Answer 2

1) Gallows
2) Natural
3) Boot
4) Lateral
5) Dunlop(for supracondylar #)

Question 3

WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF SKIN TRACTION?

Answer 3

1) Compartment syndrome
2) Skin avulsion
3) Allergic rxn
4) Gangrene or ischemia
5) Joint stiffness
6) Hypostatic pneumonia

Question 4

COMPARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SKIN TRACTION

Answer 4

Advantages of a skin traction
1) Non invasive
2) Easy to apply
3) Not expensive
Disadvantages of skin traction
1) Wt. limitation
2) Ischemia if too tight
3) Stiffness and contractures formation