TRACTION

Group Members:
Arboso, Angelica G. Lachica, Sorcha
Calapatia, Cinderella Santos, Lei Ann
Cruz, Ashley
TRACTION
• Practice of pulling on a broken bone or dislocated bone
in a slow, steady manner to realign it into proper
position, and keep it stable.

• After a fracture, traction can restore proper position of

the bone during early stage of healing or temporarily
eases the pain.

• One of the oldest treatment in orthopaedics.

• Galen wrote about it in 2nd Century A.D to treat spinal

issues.

• Used during WWII and saved many lives.

PRINCIPLES

• Counter traction is applied to obtain effective

traction.

• Counter traction is the force in the opposite

direction.

• The patient's body weight and bed positions

usually supply the counter traction.
PRINCIPLES
 PURPOSE
1. To regain normal 4. To relieve
length and alignment pressure on nerves.
of involved bone.

2. To reduce and 5. To prevent or

immobilize a reduce skeletal
fractured bone. deformities or
muscle contractures.

3. To relieve or
eliminate muscle
spasm.
 COMMON OBSERVATIONS IN CARING
A CLIENT WITH TRACTION

• Check the pt's neurovascular observations hourly and

document in flowsheets.

• If the bandage is too tight, it can cause blood circulation

to be slowed. If this is the case the bandage will need to
be removed and reapplied maintaining circulation.

• Monitoring of swelling of the femur should also occur to

observe compartment syndrome.

• If neurovascular compromise detected, remove the

bandage and reapply. If the circulation does not improve,
notify the orthopaedic team.