Role of POP boot traction in lower limb deformities

Abstract

Background: In India, postpolio residual paralysis (PPRP) patients, present with multiple deformities, which requires surgical intervention, and in rural setting, it poses a big challenge for doctors. Traction is one of the oldest treatments in fracture reduction and deformity correction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of plaster of Paris (POP) boot traction for the correction of lower limb deformities in PPRP patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case series represents 14 cases of PPRP with hip and/or knee deformity treated with POP boot traction for deformity correction, followed by caliper application. Deformities were classified as mild, moderate, and severe and assessed weekly during treatment. Results: There were 8 females and 6 males. The mean age of participants was 22.21 ± 8.107 years, and the mean duration of traction was 5.21 ± 1.76 weeks. There were seven patients with unilateral knee deformity, two patients with bilateral knee deformity, two patients with unilateral hip and knee deformity, and three patients with bilateral hip and knee deformity. The mean baseline deformity angle was 37.41, and the mean postprocedure deformity angle was 15.89. Conclusions: POP boot traction is a low-cost intervention in PPRP patients and can give promising results in the correction of lower limb deformities.