Skeletal Traction Treatment: After a broken leg is suspended from a brick. Let's explain why this is done and what it's called in medical terms.

Why do they hang a brick on their leg after a fracture?

Why Doctors Hang Weights After Fractures: Skeletal traction is a specialized technique for treating broken bones. It uses pins, pulleys, and weights to position the broken bones so they can heal properly. This method is typically used for fractures of the lower body, such as the leg or hip. Let's explain why this is done and how long it has been in use, which is unknown to most people. 

What happens in this process?

In this procedure, the doctor inserts a pin into the bone. This pin forms the base of a pulley system, on which weight is applied. By applying gradual traction, the broken bones are straightened, allowing them to return to their original position and improving the healing process. There are two common types of traction: skin traction and skeletal traction. In skin traction, the traction is applied by applying a bandage or splint to the skin, while in skeletal traction, the pin is inserted directly into the bone. The difference between the two lies in where the traction is applied.

Skeletal traction has been used for centuries, but today it is mostly used as a temporary treatment in emergency trauma cases. Its purpose is to stabilize bones before surgery. Sometimes the patient's condition is such that immediate surgery is not possible, in which case traction serves to buy time.

This technique is commonly used for fractures of the femur, tibia, humerus, hip, pelvis, and sometimes the cervical spine. In some cases, it is also used for fractures near the finger joints.

Doctors keep an eye on 

According to a webmd report, during treatment, an orthopedic surgeon inserts a pin into the bone under local anesthesia. A weight attached to a pulley is then applied, which slowly moves the bone into position. While in the hospital, nurses and doctors monitor the pin site for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, or pain, and periodically check the condition of the bone with X-rays. 

Is this procedure painful?

Many people fear that this procedure will be very painful, but anesthesia is administered when the pins are inserted. Once the bones begin to realign, the pain often subsides. After surgery, the pins are removed under anesthesia. While this has benefits, such as stabilizing the bone, reducing muscle strain, and relieving pain, prolonged traction also carries some risks. These include infection at the pin site, bedsores from being in one position for a long time, nerve damage, and muscle weakness. For this reason, doctors nowadays use skeletal traction only as a temporary measure, preferring more rapid treatments that allow patients to walk more quickly and reduce hospital stays.