What must be true for Bryant's traction to be effective in children?

For Bryant's traction to be effective in children, it is essential that the child's hips are off the bed. This positioning allows for proper alignment of the femur and alleviates pressure on the affected limbs. In Bryant's traction, the purpose is to create a countertraction effect that facilitates the correct positioning and alignment of broken bones. If the child's hips remain on the bed, the traction may not function correctly, leading to inadequate realignment of the fractures and potentially hindering the healing process.

While it is beneficial for the child to lie flat and for the ropes to be taut rather than slack, the critical factor is the elevation of the hips to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. The upper body being elevated can sometimes interfere with the optimal alignment required for the traction to work effectively, making the hip elevation paramount in this context.