Balanced Suspension versus Pillow on Preoperative Pain forProximal Femur Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate the efficacy of a balanced suspension system, using the 'omas splint, with Pearson attachment,compared with a pillow for preoperative pain in patients with proximal femoral fractures.Materials and Methods. Sixty patientswith proximal femur fractures were randomized into two groups: a balanced suspension group and a pillow group. In the firstgroup, a balanced suspension was applied after length adjustment, to match the patient’s leg and thigh. In the pillow group, apillow was placed below the patient’s leg, to position the patient’s hip in a semiflexion and external rotation position. Preoperativepain severity, by using a verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS), the amount of morphine consumed, and complication wererecorded.Results. 'ere were no differences in patient characteristics between the groups. 'e mean VNRS for pain was notstatistically different between the groups, from the start of the study up to 48 hours. 'e mean of morphine consumption was notdifferent between the groups at the start of the study, on day 1, and on day 2 (p�0.25, 0.89, and 0.053, respectively).Conclusions.A balanced suspension did not improve patient outcome to the same level as other tractions in previous studies. Hence, othermethods for reducing pain, while waiting for definite operations, should be focused on. 'e clinical trial is registeredwith TCTR20150514002