- 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.