Pre-R

Traction From The Hip

Femur fracture is one of the most painful and life threatening of long bone fractures. Following such injury, the large quadriceps muscles frequently spasm forcing overlapping, fragmented bone into muscle, causing a pain-spasm cycle. Traction is external scaffolding that relieves the spasm, pain and further injury. It also diminishes the volume of the thigh and potential for hemorrhage. Numerous traction splints exist on the market, and the STS represents the latest in traction splint evolution.

High Points

• No extension past the foot making ideal for tight transports
• Fits all size patients from pediatric to adult
• Still works despite lower extremity trauma or amputation
• Proximal traction permits easy adjustment
• Excellent mechanical advantage with smooth adjustment
• Compact and lightweight

In 1998 during a wilderness medicine course, Dr. Sam learned about a particularly clunky traction splint for fractured femurs. He thought he could do better, and so began a winding saga. His first prototype was made of steel with a traction mechanism that had an 8:1 mechanical advantage.  This meant you could rip a limb right off… not yet better. He later incorporated a gentler pulley into a collapsible ski pole, and produced a few hundred. The ski pole/splint worked well but was clearly best for a “niche” market.

In 2006 the product was refined, and shortened for the EMS market. But it lay dormant once again until being adopted in 2009, surprisingly, by the Singapore Army. Today the ski pole and “STS” are distributed by a company in Colorado called Rescue Essentials. Please have a closer look if you are interested in stretching a broken femur.