J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1973 Jun;8(2):123-128. 10.4055/jkoa.1973.8.2.123.

Femur Shaft Fracture in Children Treated by Charnley's Traction Unit

• Lee KD
• Chung YK
• Rhee SK
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 2463765
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1973.8.2.123

Abstract

The treatment and results of 6 cases of the femoral shaft fracture in children are prensented and the method of Charnleys traction unit used most frequently at Korea General Hospital is described. Many Kinds of traction for the femoral shaft fracture in children was introduced. But nearly all methods which depend on heavy traction are open to the following criticism; 1) It is impossible to diminish the traction force alone without jeopardising the stablity of the reduction. 2) Gravity is not used to help in correcting the deformity of backward angulation. 3) Backward angulation of the distal fragment can never be corrected by traction in the axis of the femur. To do this the direction of the traction must be delfected away from the axis of the femur. Charnleys traction offers the following features: 1 The foot is supported at right angles to the tibia. 2. The external popliteal nerve and calf muscles are protected from pressure against the slings of the splint. The tibia is suspendcd from the Steinmann pin inside the plaster so that an air space develops under the tibia as the calf muscles lose their bulk. 3. External rotation of the foot and distal fragment of the femur is controlled. 4. The tendo Achillis is protected from pressure sores. 5. Comfort; the patient is unaware of the traction when applied through the medium of the nail. Age distribution of the patients was from 2 years to 13 years. Initial angulation after the manual reduction was from 0 to 25 degree posteriorly and from 5 to 9 degree laterally. Angulation after radiological union was from 0 to 15 degree posteriorly and from 0 to 8 degree laterally. Overriding before reduction was from 0.9 to 3.2cm and after reduction from 0.3 to 1.2cm. The duration of the inmobilization in Charnleys traction unit was from 15 days to 57 days. The duration of radiological union was from 51 days to 94 days.

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Child*
Congenital Abnormalities
Femur*
Foot
Gravitation
Hospitals, General
Humans
Korea
Methods
Muscles
Pressure Ulcer
Splints
Tibia
Traction*