- Discussion:
- is preferred by many for use in older children and adolescents;
- skeletal traction is applied w/ Steinman pin inserted thru distal femur;
- see:
insertion technique:
- knee should be flexed 30 deg to relax the hamstrings;
-
deformity:
- w/ mid shaft frx, there is tendency is toward posterior angulation;
- to restore the normal anterior bowing of
femur, knee should be in flexion
to relax the gastrocnemius muscle;
- medial or lateral angulation may be corrected by aligning distal frag,
w/ proximal one or by changing the direction of the pull, or both;
- in about 3-4 weeks, callus will usually be seen on x-rays;
- traction may be removed & frx is immobilized in hip
Spica Cast for
an additional 3-5 weeks at
which time it will be solidly healed;
-------------------------
Skeletal traction for fractures of the femoral shaft in children. A
long-term study.
