Buck's Traction

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Buck’s Traction
Credit to:
Durand Tessier, Surgery 7

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What is Buck’s Traction
• One of the most common orthopedic
mechanisms by which pull is exerted on the
lower extremity with a system of ropes, weights,
and pulleys
• May be unilateral or bilateral: used to
immobilize, position, and align the lower
extremity in the treatment of contractures and
diseases of the hip and knee
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

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Supplies Needed
5 lbs Bucks Traction Assembly:
• Two 9 inch single clamp bars
• One pulley
• One 36 inch length of traction cord
• Appropriate weight and hook
• bucks traction boot

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Set Up
Side of setup will depend on
which hip is fractured
1. Place the first of the 9 inch
single clamp bars angled up,
slightly protruding toward
the footboard of the bed
away from the patient
2. Connect the second 9 inch
bar to the end of the first
3. Line the pulley unit directly
with the foot of the affected
leg of the patient
3
2
1

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Alignment
• The weight system should
line up with the patient as
much as possible while
attempting to keep the
affected leg as straight as
tolerated.

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Applying the boot
• Place the bucks traction boot on the patient
• When secure, feed the traction cord through the
existing eyelet found on the end of the bucks
boot
Existing
eyelet

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Pulley System
• There must be adequate
clearance while feeding the
traction cord through the
pulley system
• The cord can not come into
contact with any obstruction
as this would impede the
effectiveness of the bucks
traction weight

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The Final Step
• Apply/attach the weight as
prescribed by Orthopedics
(normally 5 lbs)
• This weight must also have
adequate clearance from the
patient’s bed