About Skeletal Traction
Key Highlights
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Provides precise, continuous alignment for complex fractures and deformities.Helps relieve pressure on surrounding nerves, muscles, and blood vessels.Maintains bone length and correct positioning before definitive surgery.Can be a non-invasive alternative to immediate major surgery in some cases.Allows for ongoing assessment and adjustment of the correction.
Who is this surgery for?
- Severe, unstable long bone fractures (e.g., femur, tibia).
- Fractures with significant shortening or displacement.
- Pelvic fractures in children.
- Certain congenital or acquired limb deformities requiring gradual correction.
- Severe joint dislocations that are difficult to reduce.
- Pre-operative stabilization for complex orthopedic surgeries.
- Management of certain spinal fractures or injuries.
How to prepare
- Detailed physical examination and imaging (X-rays, CT scan) to assess the injury.
- Review of the child's medical history and any allergies.
- Discussion of the procedure, its duration, and care plan with the child and parents.
- Administration of appropriate anesthesia (often general or regional) for pin insertion.
- Cleaning and sterilizing the skin at the pin insertion site.
- Ensuring the traction equipment (frame, weights, pulleys) is correctly set up.
Risks & possible complications
- Infection at the pin insertion site (pin tract infection).
- Nerve or blood vessel damage during pin placement.
- Over-distraction or under-distraction of the bone.
- Joint stiffness or muscle atrophy due to prolonged immobility.
- Pressure sores from prolonged bed rest.
- Allergic reaction to anesthesia or materials.
- Potential for the pin to loosen or break.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Hospital stay is required for continuous monitoring, pain management, and traction adjustment.
- Regular cleaning and dressing of pin sites to prevent infection.
- Physical therapy begins early to maintain joint mobility and muscle strength where possible.
- Pain is managed with medications.
- The traction system is maintained for several weeks until adequate bone alignment/healing is achieved.
- After traction is removed, a cast or brace may be applied, followed by a guided rehabilitation program.
- Follow-up X-rays are essential to monitor healing progress.
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Typical hospital stay: 7-21 days (varies greatly based on injury and treatment plan)
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Expected recovery time: 6 weeks to several months (including traction time and subsequent rehabilitation)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering skeletal traction in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with pediatric orthopedics departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform skeletal traction. MediFyr helps you compare pediatric orthopedics and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for skeletal traction compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 50 Thousand – 200 Thousand | 7-21 days (varies greatly based on injury and treatment plan) | ~ 6 weeks to several months (including traction time and subsequent rehabilitation) | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 175 Thousand – 700 Thousand | 7-21 days (varies greatly based on injury and treatment plan) | ~ 6 weeks to several months (including traction time and subsequent rehabilitation) | Know More |
Anika Brown, a spirited 8-year-old from...
Anika Brown, a spirited 8-year-old from a small farming community, was an avid horseback rider. During a local rodeo event, she was thrown from her pony, suffering a severe, displaced mid-shaft femur fracture. The local ER stabilized her, but the break was too unstable for a simple cast. The pediatric orthopedic surgeon explained that due to the fracture's location and Anika's young age, her best chance for straight, strong bone healing was with skeletal traction. A thin pin would be placed in her distal femur, connected to weights that would gently pull the bone fragments into perfect alignment over several weeks. Anika was terrified of the 'metal pin' and cried at the thought of being stuck in a hospital bed. The first few days in traction were difficult; she felt confined and missed her friends and animals. But the child life specialists became her allies, decorating her traction frame and organizing virtual visits with her class. The constant, dull ache subsided, replaced by boredom they fought with crafts and movies. After three weeks, X-rays showed beautiful callus formation. She was transitioned to a spica cast and finally went home. Though initially frustrated by the slow pace, Anika's resilience shone through. At her 6-month follow-up, running on her healed leg, she was proud of her 'brave story' and was already asking when she could ride again, with a new appreciation for her body's ability to heal.
Pediatric Orthopedics for Skeletal Traction
Explore experienced pediatric orthopedics who regularly perform skeletal traction and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 14 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad
- 23 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata