Bulletin of the NYU hospital for joint diseases
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Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis · Jan 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySkin traction and placebo effect in the preoperative pain control of patients with collum and intertrochanteric femur fractures.
Proximal femur fractures are one of the most common injuries necessitating operative treatment. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate and compare the possible effects of the preoperative application of a skin traction device, with or without weights, on pain relief in patients with acute proximal femur fracture. ⋯ This study indicates that pillow placement under an injured limb can be safely used instead of traction, which has no significant benefit. However, an external device, such as a skin traction kit without weight, may be used in patients with persistent pain; this external device may have an additive placebo effect, as was proven in this study.