Home traction of femoral shaft fractures in younger children

The study describes a home traction program of femoral shaft fractures in p reschool children using the 90-90 traction technique. A special bed stretch er was designed for the program and adapted for use in ordinary ambulances and in all types of homes. Twenty-four patients, 2.2-5.9 years of age, were followed. The average hospital stay was 7.0 days, and the average home tra ction period was 22.1 days. One patient had a superficial pin tract infecti on. The treatment was uneventful in all other cases. All fractures healed w ith a shortening of less than or equal to 1 cm. The angulation was less tha n or equal to 10 degrees in all cases but one, which healed with a valgus a ngulation of 15 degrees but without functional disability. Interviews showe d that the parents were very satisfied with the treatment program. The cost savings are obvious compared to traction treatment in the hospital.