It involves inserting a pin or wire directly into the bone, then attaching weights through pulleys or ropes to it that control the amount of pressure applied. Skeletal traction is used for fractures that require a high amount of force applied directly to the bone, as it allows more weight to be added with less risk of damaging the surrounding soft tissues. If you need skeletal traction, it will be done while an anesthetic so you don’t experience too much pain.