HIP FRACTURE

COMPARISON OF MEAN PAIN SCORE BETWEEN SKIN TRACTION VERSUS WITHOUT SKIN TRACTION IN CASES PRESENTING

Abstract

Objectives: To compare mean pain score between skin traction versus without
skin traction in cases presenting with hip fracture. Study Design: Multi-randomized controlled
study. Setting: Department of Orthopaedics, Chandka Medical College Hospital Larkana and
Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Nowshera. Period: 1st October 2016 to 31st March
2017. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 cases (50 in two groups) between 18-60 years of
age including both genders presenting with unilateral femur fracture within 72 hours of injury
were enrolled in this study. They were divided in two groups i.e. study and control group, study
group was allotted to the cases undergoing traction while control was those without using skin
traction. Intramuscular diclofenac sodium injection (75 gm) was used in all participants and
followed up for two tablets of paracetamol (500 mg) on 8 hourly basis. Visual analogue scale
to record pain score, 0 was no pain and 10 was the severe pain, it was recorded at 24 hours
of application of traction and second measurement was recorded just few minutes before the
surgery is done. Results: In this study, mean age was calculated as 48.74+9.12 years, age
range was 18-60 years. Male participants were in majority by calculating 64% (n=32) in Study
and 58% (n=29) in control group while female cases were 36% (n=18) in cases and 42%
(n=21) in control group. Mean pain score at 24 hours of traction in study and control group was
recorded as 4.60+0.70 in study group and 5.30+0.82 in control group (P = 0.0553), shows
a significant difference. Conclusion: Mean pain score is significantly reduced during first 24
hours of application of skin traction as compared to those without it in cases with hip fractures,
however, it has no significant effect on pain after 24 hours of application.