Principles and Applications of Skin Traction

Indications and Rationale for Serial Casting

Skin traction is a non-invasive method used in orthopaedics to stabilize fractures, correct deformities, and reduce muscle spasms. It involves the application of weights to an injured limb to facilitate alignment and healing.

Indications

• Fractures of the femur and tibia
• Hip dysplasia
• Muscle contractures
• Correction of congenital deformities

Mechanism and Rationale

The principle behind skin traction is to apply a continuous force along the axis of the limb to promote proper alignment. The serial casting technique gradually corrects deformities while minimizing complications such as contractures and pressure ulcers.

Applications

Skin traction is widely used in paediatric and adult orthopaedics to manage fractures and musculoskeletal conditions without invasive procedures.