Audio Distraction for Traction Pin Placement: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Given that skeletal traction is the current standard of care at our institution; our study will focus on the use of audio distraction during placement of skeletal traction and the effect on patient discomfort. There have been multiple studies examining the use of various distraction techniques for pain and anxiety, mainly with patients undergoing GI procedures, such as colonoscopy. The goal of our study is to investigate the use audio distraction with music from an mp3 player and headphones, and the effect on patient anxiety and pain during the placement of a skeletal traction pin. Provider-perceived patient cooperation and procedure difficulty will also be assessed.

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial at Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, MN and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida to compare primary outcomes of subjects between audio distraction and no audio distraction groups during traction pin placement. Recruitment of patients for inclusion in this study will be completed by the orthopedic resident placing the skeletal traction pin. Patients will be recruited for inclusion in this study after determining the medical need for placement of a skeletal traction pin. Routine care will be provided by the orthopedic resident for skeletal traction pin placement. Those included in this study and randomized into the treatment arm will be given an mp3 device and headphones to listen to a genre of music of their choosing in addition to being treated to the current routine care. Those randomized into the control arm will be treated to the current routine care without any use of music. Patients will be randomized into 2 groups; audio distraction with music versus control group with no music.