Preoperative skin traction in patients with hip fractures is not useful

One hundred twenty patients with cervical or trochanteric hip fractures wer e allocated randomly to groups receiving either skill traction or no specia l treatment while awaiting surgery, No differences were found between the g roups in terms of pain experienced, the need for supplementary analgesics, or complications during the hospital stay. In addition, the repositioning a nd percentage of united fractures after 4 months did not differ significant ly between the groups. The application of skin traction offered no benefits , and thus routine use of preoperative skin traction in patients with hip f ractures is not recommended.