AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE APPLICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF HAMILTON-RUSSELL TRACTION ON 3 ORTHOPEDIC WARDS

This study is concerned with the application and maintenance of Hamilt on Russell traction, a form of vectored skin traction. It may be used in the treatment of fractures of the femur for the purposes of immobil ization and for pain relief prior to surgery, A preliminary questionna ire demonstrated a poor level of knowledge in nurses working in an ort hopaedic area, It was therefore speculated that application and mainte nance of the traction would be inaccurate. The angles making up the re sultant traction force were measured in 11 systems, The theoretical tr action force was established using mathematics. The actual force was m easured using a goniometer. A comparison was then made. The results in all 11 systems demonstrated a highly statistically significant differ ence between the theoretical and actual positions of the traction forc e (P<0.0005). The practical implications of this are discussed and rec ommendations for a protocol of application and maintenance suggested, Areas for further research are identified.