Closed femoral fractures: why not simple traction?

A study was conducted to evaluate the result of treating closed fractures of the femoral shaft by simple traction in a busy General Hospital with a view to reducing some of te complications experienced in conventional traction splintage devices and to obtaining early discharge from hospital. Functional bracing was used when possible for fractures in the middle of the shaft. Over a two-year-period 45 patients were studied. The preliminary findings indicate that simple skeletal traction applied to fractures of the shaft of the femur gives satisfactory results, reduces the complications of conventional management in a Thomas's splint and shortens the time in hospital. Supplementary functional bracing applied between the fourth and seventh weeks allows this earlier discharge.