Home traction of femoral shaft fractures in younger children.

The study describes a home traction program of femoral shaft fractures in preschool children using the 90-90 traction technique. A special bed stretcher was designed for the program and adapted for use in ordinary ambulances and in all types of homes. Twenty-four patients, 2.2-5.9 years of age, were followed. The average hospital stay was 7.0 days, and the average home traction period was 22.1 days. One patient had a superficial pin tract infection. The treatment was uneventful in all other cases. All fractures healed with a shortening of < or = 1 cm. The angulation was < or = 10 degrees in all cases but one, which healed with a valgus angulation of 15 degrees but without functional disability. Interviews showed that the parents were very satisfied with the treatment program. The cost savings are obvious compared to traction treatment in the hospital.