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Traction •Process of drawing or pulling apart… •May involve distraction and gliding •Pulling 2 articulating surfaces away from each other
Types of Traction
Axis ◦ Traction in line with the long axis of a part
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Types of Traction
Head traction ◦ Traction applied to the head for injuries to the cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs, nerves or muscles
Types of Traction
Weight ◦ Traction application through the use of: Weights
Pulleys
Ropes
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Immobilization
Fractures that cannot be immobilized in a cast utilize traction for immobilization
Immobilization
The muscles of the limb act as an internal splint to protect the fracture
◦ And provide mechano-receptive input for pain relief
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Immobilization
Skin traction ◦ Applied with something that encircles the extremity
Used when not more than 5-6 pounds of pull is required
Used for longitudinal pull on the LE
Used for femoral shaft fractures in pediatrics
Immobilization
Skeletal traction ◦ Drilling a small hole transversely into the bone and inserting a small diameter wire (1/8 inch) through the bone
Makes it possible for increased tolerances of weight for traction ◦ Femoral shaft on an adult would require 20-30# of pull
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Immobilization
Skeletal Traction ◦ Can be applied to distal areas
◦ Comfortable for patients
Immobilization
Skeletal Traction ◦ For femoral fractures it is most commonly applied through the proximal tibia just distal to the tibial tubercle
◦ Procedure increases the possibility for infection Aseptic techniques are important
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Crutchfield Tongs
Skeletal Traction for fractures of dislocations of the cervical spine ◦ Applied through the outer layer of the skull
◦ Allows for 30-40# in against gravity position
◦ (with a halo attachment)
Spinal Traction
Effects ◦ Separation of vertebral bodies
◦ Distraction/gliding of facet joints
◦ Increased tension of spinal ligamentous structures
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Spinal Traction
Effects ◦ Increasing the intervertebral foramenal spacing
◦ Straightening out the spinal curves
◦ Stretching of the spinal musculature
Types of Spinal Traction
Continuous ◦ Applied for up to several hours at a time
◦ Long duration requires that only small amounts of weight be used
Traction & LBP
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Types of Spinal Traction
Continuous ◦ Believed ineffective in actually separating the spinal structures since the patient is not receiving pull sufficient to separate vertebrae
Types of Spinal Traction
Sustained or Static ◦ Steady amounts of traction applied for 5-30 minutes
◦ Heavy poundage (shorter duration)
◦ Most effective with a split table (H friction)
◦ Traction tables, mechanical devices
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Types of Spinal Traction
Intermittent Traction ◦ Traction force alternately applied and withdrawn every few seconds
◦ Pull time is at least 7 seconds, rest ½ the pull time
Stretching only occurs after 7-30 seconds of pull
Types of Spinal Traction
Manual Traction ◦ Applied through the hands of the clinician
◦ May be more difficult for the patient to relax
◦ Difficult to reproduce the force with precision
◦ Difficult to maintain the necessary force to produce a separation
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Types of Spinal Traction
Positional Traction ◦ Placing the patient in various positions using pillows, blocks or
sandbags ◦ to effect the
longitudinal pull on the spinal structures
Types of Spinal Traction
Positional Traction ◦ Usually applied in side lying/lateral bending To affect structures on one side
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Types of Spinal Traction
Auto Traction ◦ Performed with a specific piece of equipment A traction table in 2
segments that ◦ Can be individually angled
and rotated ◦ The patient’s body weight
and gravity make up the traction force when the patient is suspended from the trunk in a vertical position.
Types of Spinal Traction
Gravity Lumbar Traction ◦ Boots are applied to the ankles,
◦ The patient is literally inverted on a table or bar
◦ The patient’s body weight acts as traction
Adding weights to the patients hands increases the traction force ◦ Upper body, arms & Head = 50% of
body weight
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Indications for Spinal Traction
Disc herniation with protrusion ◦ Disc protrusion can be reduced
◦ Spinal nerve root compression can be reduced
◦ Flattening of the protrusion
◦ Material drained from the epidural space into the disc space via a suction force
Indications for Spinal Traction
Joint dysfunction ◦ Traction applied to a series of spinal segments Each segment in the series
receives an equal amount of traction
Passive motion for the joints
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Indications for Spinal Traction
Degenerative Disc Disease ◦ Temporary separation of vertebrae
If there is a sudden onset of pain, Traction will provide relief of symptoms
Contraindications for Traction
Structural disease secondary to tumor or infection
Patients with vascular compromise
Conditions where joint movement is contraindicated
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Contraindications for Traction
Acute sprains, strains and inflammation
Spinal instability
Pregnancy
Osteoporosis
Hiatal hernia
Claustrophobia
Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Patients MUST be able to relax!
Split tables virtually eliminate friction
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Techniques for Lumbar Traction
At least ¼ to ½ of the patient’s body weight will be necessary to move the body horizontally
Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Poundage minimums ◦ 22-33# for muscle relaxation
◦ 66-110# to reduce disc pressure by 25%
◦ Visible separation of bodies 120# for 15 minutes
◦ Cyriax
Damage to vertebral structures at 400# ◦ Cadaver studies
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Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Friction ◦ The resistance to movement
◦ Attractive force between and object and the surface that it is resting upon
Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Coefficient of Friction ◦ Human body on a mattress
= 0.5
◦ A force of ½ of the patient’s body weight will be necessary to move the patient’s body horizontally
Hmmm…does this look like it
would be ½ of her body weight?
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Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Disc Herniation with protrusion ◦ Sustained traction
Longer hold times ◦ 60 seconds hold, 20 seconds rest
Techniques for Lumbar Traction
Treatment times ◦ 10 minutes intermittent
◦ 8 minutes sustained To maintain the effect
of suction on the disc pressure
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Postural Traction
Most often for unilateral separation ◦ Pt. is sidelying over a rolled pillow or a blanket that is 6-8 inches in diameter placed at the level where the separation is to occur
Learn more about traction and alternative treatment techniques.
Cervical Traction Techniques
Positioning ◦ Sitting versus supine
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Cervical Traction Techniques
Head Halters ◦ Pull needs to be more from the occiput than the mandible
◦ Potential problems for patients diagnosed with TMJ disorders
Cervical Traction Techniques
9-10# for simple relaxation of cervical musculature
25-40# stepped progression necessary to produce measurable changes in the posterior CS
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Cervical Traction Techniques
Pull time = twice the relax time
7-30 seconds pull time
120# will RUPTURE a disc
Cervical Traction Techniques
Relaxation decreases muscle guarding
Shorter treatment times are “tolerated better” than longer treatment times
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Manual Cervical Traction
Applied through the hands of an experienced clinician
Difficult to reproduce the force
Difficult for the patient to relax
Spinal Traction
Indications ◦ Disc herniation with protrusion
◦ Nerve root compression
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Spinal Traction
Contraindications ◦ Structural disease
◦ Vascular compromise
◦ When movement is contraindicated
◦ Acute sprains & strains
◦ Inflammation
◦ Pregnancy
◦ Claustrophobia
Halo Traction for Cervical Fracture Stabilization
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Cervical Traction for Fracture Stabilization without the Halo attachment
Stabilization through external support
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Stabilization through External Support
Traction & Distraction/Glide