Buck's traction primarily serves to what?

Buck's traction primarily serves to what?

• A. Immobilize a fractured hip and reduce pain/swelling
• B. Align the knee for weight-bearing
• C. Increase muscle strength in the leg
• D. Elevate the foot to improve circulation

Answer: (A)

Buck's traction is a skin traction used to immobilize the leg and reduce muscle spasm in a hip or proximal femur fracture. By applying a gentle, continuous pulling force along the limb, it helps align the fragments and relieve pain and swelling, making the area more comfortable and stabilizing the injury while awaiting definitive treatment such as surgery. This method is temporary and focused on stabilization rather than strengthening or promoting weight-bearing alignment. It’s not about aligning the knee for weight-bearing, increasing leg muscle strength, or elevating the foot to improve circulation. Those aren’t the primary goals of Buck’s traction.

Buck's traction is a skin traction used to immobilize the leg and reduce muscle spasm in a hip or proximal femur fracture. By applying a gentle, continuous pulling force along the limb, it helps align the fragments and relieve pain and swelling, making the area more comfortable and stabilizing the injury while awaiting definitive treatment such as surgery. This method is temporary and focused on stabilization rather than strengthening or promoting weight-bearing alignment.

It’s not about aligning the knee for weight-bearing, increasing leg muscle strength, or elevating the foot to improve circulation. Those aren’t the primary goals of Buck’s traction.