Buck's skin traction for hip fracture works by:

• A. Weights pulling the leg to apply tension to the hip and femur
• B. Applying pins into bone to provide traction
• C. Internal fixation with hardware
• D. Using a long leg cast to immobilize

Answer: (A)

Buck's traction works by applying gentle pulling force through a band or sling placed on the skin of the leg, with weights attached to create continuous traction. This pulls on the soft tissues around the hip and femur to help realign the fracture and relieve muscle spasm without inserting pins into bone or using hardware. It’s a temporary, nonoperative method used to control pain and maintain alignment while awaiting surgery or healing. In contrast, skeletal traction uses pins or wires in bone, internal fixation involves implanted hardware, and a long leg cast immobilizes without applying traction.