It is not always possible to bring the head of the femur back into the socket easily. The muscles and ligaments that hold the head of the bone outside the hip socket are tight and may resist efforts to reposition the bone. The tightness must be overcome by prolonged, steady stretching. This is achieved through a process called traction. Traction means applying weights on a pulley system to the limb so that the tight muscles are gradually stretched allowing the head of the femur to return to the hip socket.
Special tape is applied to the child's legs, which are then wrapped with elastic bandages.
Ropes and weights are attached to the tapes on the child's legs. The child is then positioned at an angle with head below hips. Both legs are placed in traction to provide balance. Different weight loads may be attached, however. Traction looks strange but it does not hurt the child.