Interface pressure produced by the traction post on a standard orthopaedic table.

Abstract

Lower limb traction is applied with counter traction in the groin. The resultant tissue pressures can be high and may result in skin necrosis or nerve palsies. Volunteers were positioned on a fracture table and traction applied to the left leg. Perineal contact pressures were measured using pressure transducers connected to a laptop computer. Pressure readings and pain scores were recorded with different types of padding, whilst the leg was repositioned. Maximal pressures exceeded the 70 mmHg limit known to cause tissue damage. Larger (10 cm) padding devices significantly reduced the pressures. When employing the perineal traction post, care should be taken to pad this carefully to avoid the sequelae of high tissue pressure.