POP BOOT TRACTION

ITS EFFICACY IN PRE-OP MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE FRACTURES OF UPPER END OF FEMUR

Abstract

Introduction: Fractures of upper end of femur are generally applied some
traction pre- peratively. Traditionally either skin or skeletal traction is applied. In this study we
applied traction via POP Boot with a T behind ankle in 354 cases of fracture upper end of femur
during pre-operative management and the results were compared with those of skin and skeletal
traction. Objectives: To see whether effective pre-op traction can be applied via POP Boot in
upper femur fractures and what are the complications and cost effectiveness as compared
to skin and skeletal traction. Study: In 354 patients POP Boot was applied and 3 kg tration
applied to the injured limb with fracture femur while in 50 cases skin traction and in another 50
cases skeletal traction was applied. Design: It’s a randomized prospective double blind study.
Settings: Study was carried out in tertiary care hospitals including combined military hospitals
of Rawalpindi, Muzaffarabad and Kharian. Period: Study was conducted between the periods of
10 Sep 2003 to 20 Sep 2012 (9 years and 10 days). Methods: All patients have either simple or
communited fracture of upper end of femur. All patients were adults and received same amount
of analgaesia. 3 kg traction was applied as standard in all cases. All patients were operated for
their fracture femur within 2 to 10 days of applying traction. Results: Results were compared in
terms of pain control, reduction achieved, rotational control, and discomfort during application
of tration, complications, and cost effectiveness and compared with standard skin and skeletal
tractions. Conclusion: POP Boot traction is an easily applied, effective and cost effective way of
traction which has very low rate of complications and should be used for pre-op traction in all
adult cases with upper femur fracture.