NORCET-11 Mains: Identify the traction shown, used for a femur fracture in a child under 2 years.& x20;

NORCET-11 Mains

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: NORCET-11 Mains

Explanation

The image shows a child with both legs suspended vertically at a 90-degree angle to the hips, which is characteristic of Gallows or Bryant traction.
This type of traction is specifically indicated for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children under the age of 2 or those weighing less than 15 kg (35 lbs).
The traction uses the child's body weight for counter-traction, effectively aligning the fractured bone segments for healing.
The key visual cue is the vertical suspension of both legs, with the buttocks slightly lifted off the bed.

Option A: Hamilton-Russell traction involves a different setup, typically using a sling under the knee and a system of pulleys to create both upward and longitudinal pull. It is not the vertical suspension shown in the image.
Option B: Russell extension traction is similar to Hamilton-Russell traction. It uses a knee sling and a pulley system to apply a balanced pull, but it does not involve suspending both legs straight up in the air as seen with Bryant traction.
Option D: Buck traction is a form of skin traction where the pulling force is applied horizontally along the length of the leg. The leg is not suspended vertically.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pediatric Orthopedic Traction as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The primary nursing responsibility for a child in Bryant's traction is frequent and meticulous neurovascular assessment due to the high risk of compromised blood flow to the lower legs, which can lead to Volkmann's ischemia, a devastating complication.
Nurses must ensure the traction is effective by maintaining proper body alignment, ensuring weights hang freely, and checking that the child's buttocks are just slightly elevated off the mattress.
What if? If the child in the image was 5 years old, Bryant's traction would be contraindicated due to the increased risk of vascular compromise. A different method, such as traction with a spica cast or flexible intramedullary nailing, would be considered.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully analyze the image. Note the key features: an infant, both legs suspended straight up (vertically), and the buttocks slightly off the bed.
Next, read the question stem carefully. It specifies the injury (femur fracture) and the patient's age group (child under 2 years).
Correlate the visual information with the clinical context. The combination of vertical leg suspension in an infant for a femur fracture is a classic presentation.
Evaluate the options. Compare the definition of each traction type with your visual analysis.
Eliminate options that do not match the visual evidence. Buck's and Russell's tractions do not involve bilateral vertical suspension.
Select the option that perfectly matches both the image and the clinical indication provided in the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 4 p. 125-127

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 2 p. 2092-2094