Elastic Bandage Traction Technique for Reduction of Distal Tibial Fractures

In the present technique report, we describe a useful noninvasive traction technique that uses a 6-inch elastic bandage that can be obtained in every operating room and can be easily applied around the patient's ankle and the surgeon's waist to offer a stable traction force during minimally invasive plate fixation of distal tibial fractures. This technique frees the surgeon's hands to focus on applying other forces, such as rotational, varus, or valgus forces, to reduce the fracture and stabilize the reduction and alignment during percutaneous insertion and fixation of the plate. This technique, although simplistic and old-fashioned, is also useful for the closed reduction of distal tibial physeal injuries in children, because it can provide a significant amount of traction force while allowing the surgeon to apply other forces for fracture reduction. This technique can be used in the emergency room, where an ankle distractor is not usually present, and in some cases could be useful during ankle arthroscopy.