Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

Traction is used to control all of the following EXCEPT which of the following?

1. Immobility

2. Contracture

3. Muscle spasms

4. Bone alignment

The correct answer is: Bone alignment

Traction is a therapeutic intervention primarily utilized in rehabilitation settings to alleviate pain, improve function, and enhance the healing process of musculoskeletal injuries. Its applications include managing muscle spasms, preventing or treating contractures, and promoting immobilization to allow for proper healing. When considering the use of traction in relation to bone alignment, it is important to note that while traction can assist in correcting or maintaining alignment during the healing process, it does not inherently control bone alignment in the same way that it can address muscle spasms or contraction issues. Instead, other methods, such as surgical interventions or splinting, are typically employed for direct bone alignment. Traction's role in this context is more supportive, aiding in maintaining the alignment achieved through other means rather than actively controlling it. This understanding clarifies why traction is not used to control bone alignment as directly as it is used for other conditions like muscle spasms or contractures.