A patient with an intracapsular fracture of the left femur is placed in Buck's traction before surgery for a hip replacement. The patient asks why traction is necessary when surgery is planned. The nurse's response to the patient is based on the knowledge that traction:

A. Will help prevent flexion contractures of the affected hip.
B. Is necessary to prevent displacement of the fracture.
C. Will decrease the incidence of painful muscle spasms.
D. Is used to maintain the leg in the external rotation position.

Buck's traction is utilized for several reasons: to prevent further displacement of the fracture, to decrease the incidence of painful muscle spasms, and to prevent flexion contractures of the affected hip before a hip replacement surgery.

Explanation:

The use of Buck's traction in a patient with an intracapsular fracture of the left femur awaiting hip replacement surgery is multifaceted. Primarily, traction is applied to prevent further displacement of the fractured bone and to decrease the likelihood of additional injury. This is, traction is necessary to prevent displacement of the fracture.

Furthermore, it's used to prevent the onset of painful muscle spasms, which are common in such cases due to the muscle's involuntary response to the injury. Hence, traction will decrease the incidence of painful muscle spasms.

Lastly, traction prevents flexion contractures, abnormal shortening of muscles around the joint caused by being in a fixed position, which could obstruct the hip replacement surgery or its recovery. So, traction will help prevent flexion contractures of the affected hip.

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