An Unorthodox Skin Traction Technique for the Initial Management of Distal Femur Fractures in a High-volume Trauma Centre: A Technical Review
| Autor: | Andrea Mc Carthy, Eoghan Meagher, Mark Dolan |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
deformity
medicine.medical_treatment 030204 cardiovascular system & hematology Trauma 03 medical and health sciences Fixation (surgical) Distal femur 0302 clinical medicine traction Medicine Femur pain Femur fracture business.industry General Engineering Traction (orthopedics) Neurovascular bundle medicine.disease medicine.anatomical_structure Orthopedics pre-operative management Medical emergency Ankle femur fracture business 030217 neurology & neurosurgery Skin traction |
| Zdroj: | Cureus |
| ISSN: | 2168-8184 |
| Popis: | Distal femur fractures account for 3% of femur fractures and require definitive fixation to allow for weight-bearing and return of functional capability. However, if these fractures must wait a period of time to be taken to theatre, skin traction is routinely applied in the pre-operative period to maximise pain management, prevent deformity and protect neurovascular status. Pre-made traction kits are usually widely available in emergency departments worldwide, allowing for the rapid application and stabilisation of the limb once analgesia in the form of a femoral block has been delivered. Unfortunately, as in many aspects of healthcare, demand can sometimes outweigh supply. In high-volume-trauma centres or mass-casualty incidents, the pre-made kits designed for skin traction such as Sterotrac (Steroplast Healthcare, Manchester, UK) or Tensoplast (BSN medical GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) kits can be rapidly depleted, leaving emergency and orthopaedic physicians with no means of providing the traction required. Hence, we propose and describe a modified technique that provides a simple and inexpensive way to achieve and maintain skin traction using readily available hospital supplies, which can provide adequate support in a safe manner until definitive surgical fixation. This method not only provides sufficient traction but protects the bony pressure areas around the foot and ankle, thereby reducing the risk of iatrogenic pressure sores. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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