Greenstick Project

A femoral traction splint is a mechanical device that uses traction to align and provide stability to femoral fractures. Femoral traction splints are used in the acute management of femur fractures to minimise pain, pulmonary complications, blood transfusions and neurovascular complications to the limb prior to surgery. Femoral traction devices are an essential piece of equipment in the emergency centre. Unfortunately, despite many benefits of traction splints, there is still limited availability in low- and middle-income countries. At Mitchells Plain District Hospital, there was an upsurge of femur fractures due to ballistic trauma and subsequently a high demand for femoral traction splints as part of the acute management of these fractures. Faced with this challenge, and limited and costly commercial femoral traction splints, the Orthopaedic Department at Mitchells Plain District Hospital designed its own improvised femoral traction splint.

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