What is the maximum traction you should apply to a traction splint?

• A. 5% of body weight
• B. 10% of body weight
• C. 25% of body weight
• D. 15% of body weight

Answer: (B)

Traction on a traction splint should be about 10% of the patient’s body weight. This amount provides enough force to help align a long-bone fracture and reduce muscle spasm without risking damage to nerves, vessels, or soft tissue.

In practice, you adjust traction to roughly 10% of the person’s weight, which means a 180-pound patient would receive about 18 pounds of traction, while a lighter patient would have correspondingly less. You monitor for signs of compromise—distal pulses, sensation, and movement—and stop or lessen traction if pain increases, numbness, or pulselessness occur.

Five percent may be too little to aid alignment, while fifteen or twenty-five percent could cause tissue or neurovascular injury. Ten percent is the commonly recommended balance for safe, effective traction.