A third kind, cervical traction, is used to help stabilize fractures in the neck.
Skeletal traction is used for fractures that need a lot of force applied directly to the bone.
Skin Traction
Skin traction is applied directly to the skin.
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It does not require cuts to get to the bone, like skeletal traction does.
This can cause painful movement at the fracture site and muscle cramping.
Traction can hold the fractured bone or a dislocated joint in place.
What Is Buck’s Traction?
Cervical Traction
Cervical traction is used when the neck vertebrae are fractured.
Today, traction is used mostly as a temporary measure until surgery can be done.
Risks of Traction
There are risks to being put in any kind of traction.
In general, traction time can vary from 24 hours to six weeks or more.
Your muscles will be weak from spending a lot of time in bed, so moving around may hurt.
Your provider may recommend PT as a follow-up to traction.
Doing PT will help you regain your strength and movement after having spent so much time immobile.
Summary
Traction can be used to help a broken or dislocated bone heal.
It uses tools like weights and ropes to get the part of the body back into position.
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MedlinePlus.Traction.
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2020;12(8):e10034.
Published 2020 Aug 25. doi:10.7759/cureus.10034
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