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Complications

Authoring team

Two major complications may arise with traction:

  • circulatory embarrassment - especially in children with traction tapes and circular bandages. 12 Kg is an upper body weight limit for Gallows traction
  • peroneal nerve injury - especially in adults receiving leg traction. Regularly check that the limb has not gone into external rotation

Occasionally, skeletal traction through the calcaneum may cause a compartment syndrome.

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