Effectiveness of Cold Application and Range of Motion Exercise on Prevention of Complication among Patients with Skin Traction

Abstract

Skin traction – lower extremity: Buck’s skin traction is mostly used in the lower limb for femoral fractures, lower backache, acetabula and hip fractures. Skin traction rarely reduces a fracture, but reduces pain and maintains length in fractures. Intertrochanteric fracture is one of the treatments of patient with skin traction, it can be used to treat muscle spasms, treat deformities and reduce joint dislocation. The complication of skin traction can be skin damage, necrosis, DVT, and urinary react infection. Patients with fracture of tibia, femur is known to be at almost 5 times more risk to have DVT as compared to patients without fractures. The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of cold application and range of motion exercise with skin traction with a view to prevent and reduces the severity of complication at SMVMCH, Puducherry. Qualitative research approaches with preexperimental one group pre and posttest research design was selected for this study. The study sample comprises of patient with skin traction admitted in SMVMCH. The pre-test level of complication was assessed by using observational check list. After pre-test, nursing care was given to the patient with skin traction for duration of 7 days once in a day. After the 7 days the posttest was assessed by the same tool of observational check list. Therefore, the finding of the study revealed the importance of and effectiveness of cold application and range of motion exercise in reducing the level of complication among patient with skin traction. The study participant gets benefited by participating in this study.