The nurse is caring for a patient with a fractured femur who has been placed in skin traction. Which statement best describes the purpose of skin traction?

Skin traction is a type of traction that involves applying force to the skin to reduce swelling and edema around the fractured bone. It helps to alleviate pain and promote proper alignment of the bone fragments.

a. Skin traction does not immobilize the fractured bone; rather, it provides continuous but controlled tension to reduce swelling and discomfort.

b. Skin traction is not applied directly to the fractured bone. Instead, it involves applying adhesive strips or bandages to the skin, followed by connecting weights to provide the desired tension.

d. While skin traction may promote some mobility, its primary purpose is to reduce swelling and discomfort rather than facilitating early ambulation.

In skin traction, adhesive straps or wraps are applied to the skin near the fractured area, and weights are attached to create a pulling force. The pulling force helps to align and stabilize the fractured bone.

a. Skin traction does not involve surgically inserting metal pins into the bone. That technique is called skeletal traction.

b. Skin traction does not apply pressure directly on the fracture site; it uses a pulling force applied through the skin.

c. Adhesive straps or wraps are applied near the fractured area, not directly over it, to avoid pressure on the fracture site.