History of traction for treatment of lower limb fractures

The last two hundred years have seen the development of different systems of traction with effective methods of applying traction to the foot or to the leg for the treatment of fractures of the femur. The success of these methods has been tested during many wars by clinical evaluations but also by means of x-rays since the beginning of the twentieth century. Because of their advantages, these methods of traction were very frequent during the first part of the twentieth century. Crosby, Smith, Buck, Hodgen, Steinmann, Codivilla, Kirschner, and Pearson are names recurring daily on our fracture wards. Their concern for the welfare of their patients led to substantial improvements in the treatment of all patients with fractures.