In an unusual procedure, doctors in northern India's Delhi state used a doll to treat a 11-month-old girl who needed care after fracturing her leg.

The incident took place earlier this week in the national capital's Lok Nayak Hospital.

Visual showed the girl and the doll lying in the same position, side by side.

Doctors said it proved difficult to treat her as they had to put her on gallows traction.

After trying several methods- including chocolates and painkillers to ease her pain as she cried, they found a workaround.

The doll was brought in and they put it on traction. Slowly the girl cooperated.

Traction is used for children under two years of age. It is one way of treating a fractured thigh bone.

The girl, identified as Zikra Malik, fractured her left leg after falling off the bed at her residence on Aug 17.

Her father, Mohammad Shehzaad, said the girl plays with the doll at her house and treats it as her friend.