An adolescent with a fractured femur is in Russell's traction. Surgical intervention to correct the fracture is scheduled for the morning. Nursing actions should include which action?
a. Maintaining continuous traction until 1 hour before the scheduled surgery
b. Maintaining continuous traction and checking position of traction frequently
c. Releasing traction every hour to perform skin care
d. Releasing traction once every 8 hours to check circulation
ANS: B
When the muscles are stretched, muscle spasm ceases and permits realignment of the bone ends. The continued maintenance of traction is important during this phase because releasing the traction allows the muscle's normal contracting ability to again cause malpositioning of the bone ends. Continuous traction must be maintained to keep the bone ends in satisfactory realignment. Releasing at any time, either 1 hour before surgery, once every hour for skin care, or once every 8 hours would not keep the fracture in satisfactory alignment.
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