Orthopaedic Technologist Certified Traction Principles and Application Flashcards
7 cards from real OTC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Orthopaedic Technologist Certified Traction Principles and Application flashcards as text
Traction is generally contraindicated in which of the following scenarios?
Answer: Open fracture with active vascular injury requiring repair
An open fracture with active vascular injury requires emergent surgical repair; applying traction could worsen vascular compromise and delay definitive treatment.
Which modification is recommended when applying skin traction to a geriatric patient with fragile skin?
Answer: Using pre-padded or non-adhesive traction kits and reducing weight
Non-adhesive, pre-padded traction kits and reduced weights minimize shear and pressure forces on fragile geriatric skin, reducing the risk of skin tears.
In children, which fracture pattern most often necessitates overhead (Bryant's or 90-90) traction rather than skin boot traction?
Answer: Femoral shaft fractures in toddlers
Femoral shaft fractures in toddlers are managed with overhead traction to provide adequate alignment and immobilization without surgical intervention.
If a patient's traction rope slips off the pulley, the PRIORITY action is to:
Answer: Replace the rope on the pulley and verify alignment and weight
A displaced traction rope eliminates the therapeutic force, risking fracture displacement; it must be promptly replaced and the setup verified.
Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of counter-traction?
Answer: To provide an opposing force that prevents the patient from sliding toward the weights
Counter-traction is an equal and opposite force—usually the patient's own body weight—that resists the traction pull and maintains net force across the fracture site.
When troubleshooting ineffective traction, which factor should be assessed FIRST?
Answer: The integrity and alignment of the entire traction setup including ropes, pulleys, and weights
Equipment integrity—ropes not fraying, pulleys rotating freely, weights hanging freely without touching the floor—must be confirmed before assuming a clinical cause for ineffectiveness.
Which documentation element is MOST critical to record after each neurovascular check of a traction patient?
Answer: Pulse quality, capillary refill, sensation, and motor function distal to the traction
A complete neurovascular assessment—pulse, capillary refill, sensation, and motor function—provides the baseline needed to detect early deterioration and guide timely intervention.