Prosthetics and Orthotics International
ISSN: 0309-3646 (Print) 1746-1553 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ipoi20
Technical note—cervical traction M. Arthur To cite this article: M. Arthur (1979) Technical note—cervical traction, Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 3:2, 115-115 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/03093647909103092
Published online: 12 Jul 2009.
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Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ipoi20 Download by: [New York University]
Date: 27 January 2017, At: 08:29
Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 1979,3,115
Technical note-cervicai traction M. ARTHUR Northland Base Hospital, Whangarei, New Zealond
The head position board (Fig.1, right) slides into channels and is locked with thumbscrews. Adjustable temporal supports, padded with soft plastic foam, position the head and prevent it from moving out of cervical alignment. Mandible and occipital traction slings (head halters) are also used. Patients with fractures of C6 and C 7 can now sit up or lie down as desired soon after Crutchfield tongs are inserted. When in the sitting position an extra l k g weight is applied to cervical traction.
This method of cervical traction was first used to improve the comfort and nursing of a patient placed in Crutchfield tongs. Development commenced at the Whangarei Orthotics Department in 1974 based on a report from the United States (Williamson, 1963). The equipment consists of a weight camer, an overhead pulley support with mirror attachment and a head position board. The weight camer (Fig. 1, left) attaches to the bed-head connecting box, The extension arm is hinged to allow the bed to be raiFd or lowered and the foot piece is also adjustable. The weight camer remains upright at all times, an adjustable locking stay preventing it from tipping over when weight is applied.
Fig. 2. Patient with cervical traction applied. The ability to sit up to read or watch television has been much appreciated by patients who have been treated with this method of cervical traction (Fig. 2). Comment from nursing staff indicate that this is a most successful piece of ' equipment which has been well received and used. The author is grateful to the Clinical Photographic Department of Whangarei Hospital for the illustrations.
Fi . 1. Left,weikht carrier with adjustable foot and \inged extension a m . Right, Overhead pulley support and head position board. The L shaped overhead pulley support (Fig. 1, right) slides into a connecting channel and can be locked with a thumbscrew. A swivel mirror can be fixed at the end of the bar.
REFERENCE WILLIAMSON, H. G. (1963). An outline of traction for orthopaedic technicians and nursing personnel. Womak Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U S A .
All corres ondence to be addressed to M. Arthur, Orthotic &prtrnent, Northland Base Hospital, Whangarei, ew Zealand. 115
ISSN: 0309-3646 (Print) 1746-1553 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ipoi20
Technical note—cervical traction M. Arthur To cite this article: M. Arthur (1979) Technical note—cervical traction, Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 3:2, 115-115 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/03093647909103092
Published online: 12 Jul 2009.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 7
View related articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=ipoi20 Download by: [New York University]
Date: 27 January 2017, At: 08:29
Prosthetics and Orthotics International, 1979,3,115
Technical note-cervicai traction M. ARTHUR Northland Base Hospital, Whangarei, New Zealond
The head position board (Fig.1, right) slides into channels and is locked with thumbscrews. Adjustable temporal supports, padded with soft plastic foam, position the head and prevent it from moving out of cervical alignment. Mandible and occipital traction slings (head halters) are also used. Patients with fractures of C6 and C 7 can now sit up or lie down as desired soon after Crutchfield tongs are inserted. When in the sitting position an extra l k g weight is applied to cervical traction.
This method of cervical traction was first used to improve the comfort and nursing of a patient placed in Crutchfield tongs. Development commenced at the Whangarei Orthotics Department in 1974 based on a report from the United States (Williamson, 1963). The equipment consists of a weight camer, an overhead pulley support with mirror attachment and a head position board. The weight camer (Fig. 1, left) attaches to the bed-head connecting box, The extension arm is hinged to allow the bed to be raiFd or lowered and the foot piece is also adjustable. The weight camer remains upright at all times, an adjustable locking stay preventing it from tipping over when weight is applied.
Fig. 2. Patient with cervical traction applied. The ability to sit up to read or watch television has been much appreciated by patients who have been treated with this method of cervical traction (Fig. 2). Comment from nursing staff indicate that this is a most successful piece of ' equipment which has been well received and used. The author is grateful to the Clinical Photographic Department of Whangarei Hospital for the illustrations.
Fi . 1. Left,weikht carrier with adjustable foot and \inged extension a m . Right, Overhead pulley support and head position board. The L shaped overhead pulley support (Fig. 1, right) slides into a connecting channel and can be locked with a thumbscrew. A swivel mirror can be fixed at the end of the bar.
REFERENCE WILLIAMSON, H. G. (1963). An outline of traction for orthopaedic technicians and nursing personnel. Womak Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U S A .
All corres ondence to be addressed to M. Arthur, Orthotic &prtrnent, Northland Base Hospital, Whangarei, ew Zealand. 115
