Preoperative skeletal traction in Legg-Perthes disease

In four of 11 patients with Legg-Perthes disease for which a varus femoral osteotomy was planned, routine split Russell traction failed to produce complete preoperative containment. Preoperative skeletal traction was used to distract the joint, displace the extruded lateral physis below the acetabular margin, and then reintroduce the femoral head into the acetabulum with progressive abduction. The femoral heads were rated postoperatively as good (two cases), fair (two cases), and poor (one case). Preoperative skeletal traction is an adjunctive treatment method for patients with "hinge abduction" in whom a varus femoral osteotomy is indicated.