- Immobilise and apply traction to
- Unilateral femoral shaft fractures
- Bilateral femoral shaft fractures
- Femoral fractures in the presence of a confirmed or suspected pelvic fracture
- Ankle or lower limb fractures.
- Significant knee injury.
- Assess distal neurovascular observations:
- Pulse, Colour / Warmth / Movement / Sensation (CWMS)
- Compound fractures may require dressing and wound care.
- Do not apply leg straps over knee as this will cause misalignment and pain.
- Procedure is under the control of the person applying manual traction.
- Once traction is applied manually it should not be released until secured via the Kendrick Traction Device.
- All relevant infection control methods to be utilised.
- Prepare splint[1].
- Explain the procedure to the patient.
- Consider appropriate analgesia.
- Expose the injured leg completely; examine the leg, check for pedal pulses, motor and sensory function.
- Assess injured limbs colour, warmth, movement and sensation.
- NOTE: Manual inline traction of the limb should be undertaken as soon as possible and throughout the Kendrick Traction Device application[3].
- Place upper thigh strap high into groin with the pole holes on the outside of the leg. This strap must sit as high as possible.
- Measure out the length of the pole against the leg[4].
The bottom of the pole should extend approximately one section length below the foot. The pole can be shortened and lengthened, folding in a similar manner to a tent pole. - Prior to the ankle strap being positioned, the yellow Velcro strap can be applied just above the knee. This may need tightening after traction has been applied.
- Apply ankle strap[5]. The padded part of the strap sits behind the ankle. Tighten using the green strap. The yellow strap fits over the pole end (black part) and traction can be applied gently by tightening the red strap. Traction should be applied until the leg is comfortably under traction and in anatomical alignment. Check distal perfusion.
- Whilst pulling the red strap, a small amount of counter traction needs to be applied to the Kendrick Traction Device[6].
- Apply the two other Velcro straps. The red strap at the top of the thigh, the green on the lower leg[7].
- Manual in-line traction can now be released.
- The Kendrick Traction Device comes with the option of a boot hitch which can sit over a walking boot if the decision is made not to remove the shoe. The boot hitch strap is laid under the ankle, the white label on the inside of the strap lying closest to the boot [8].
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