Joint Custody
This is the #1 most important modifiable risk factor for osteoarthritis.
What is obesity?
This is the CARDINAL symptom of compartment syndrome that appears earliest.
What is severe pain out of proportion to the injury (deep, burning, unrelieved by medications)?
This vitamin should be taken WITH calcium supplements to improve absorption.
What is vitamin C (or vitamin D)?
Name at least 4 of the 7 P's used in neurovascular assessment.
What are: Pain, Poikilothermia, Pressure, Pulselessness, Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis?
This is the most common cause of amputation in the United States.
What is vascular disease, especially diabetes?
After a total hip replacement with posterior approach, the patient's hip should never flex beyond this many degrees.
What is 90 degrees?
This type of fracture has the HIGHEST risk for developing compartment syndrome.
What is a tibial fracture?
This diagnostic test is the gold standard for measuring bone mineral density.
What is a DEXA scan?
Your TKA patient has unilateral calf swelling and warmth. They say "it's just sore from PT." What do you do?
What is notify the provider immediately (suspect DVT - don't dismiss the symptoms)?
This type of lower extremity amputation is PREFERED because it preserves the knee joint and requires less energy for ambulation
What is below-knee amputation (BKA)?
These bony bumps appear on the DIP joints (fingertips) in patients with osteoarthritis.
What are Heberden's nodes?
A patient has signs of compartment syndrome. Name at least 1 Nursing action.
What is: 1.Notify provider of your concern! 2. Release any tight circumferential dressings (if able) 3. Limb placement - At the level of the heart
Nurses can detect vertebral fractures by measuring this during routine clinic visits.
What is height?
Your post-op hip replacement patient's affected leg is internally rotated. What should you do first?
What is reposition the leg to neutral with an abduction pillow (prevents dislocation)?
This is the term for pain perception in the amputated body part due to peripheral nerve severance.
What is phantom limb pain?
True of False
"I should not get out of bed for 72 hours after surgery"
What is FALSE.
Early movement post-operatively from bed to chair, possibly within 6 hours, is needed to improve and strengthen the muscles in the affected extremity. Early movement facilitates recovery. Early ambulation is also essential to reduce the hazards of immobility. Gradually increase walking time.
This fracture type is incomplete and most commonly seen in children whose bones are still flexible.
What is a greenstick fracture?
A T-score of this value or below on a DEXA scan indicates osteoporosis.
What is -2.5 or below?
Patient A has fracture pain 7/10 relieved by morphine. Patient B has fracture pain 9/10 UNRELIEVED by morphine. Who needs immediate attention?
Who is Patient B (unrelieved pain = possible compartment syndrome)?
Name at least 4 members of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team for amputation patients.
Who are: patient, nurse, primary provider, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, prosthetist, vocational rehab worker?
Name THREE hip precautions patients must follow for 4+ months after posterior approach hip replacement.
What are: 1) affected leg should NOT turn inward, 2) affected leg should NOT cross the center of the body, 3) hip should NOT bend more than 90 degrees?
A rare complication after long bone fracture or orthopedic surgery where particles of bone marrow migrate into the systemic circulation and clog smaller blood vessels, producing generalized petechiae and can lodge in the pulmonary arte
What is fat embolism syndrome?
Patients taking this osteoporosis medication should be monitored for jaw pain, loose teeth, and atypical thigh fractures as rare but serious side effects.
What are bisphosphonates?
Your patient wants to bend over to tie their shoes 2 weeks after posterior approach hip replacement. What do you say?
What is "No - that would flex your hip beyond 90 degrees. Let me get you a sock aid and long-handled shoe horn"?
Patients with fractures should be taught to go to the ER immediately if they experience these THREE classic signs that might indicate compartment syndrome.
What are: 1) severe pain out of proportion to injury, 2) pain unrelieved by medication, 3) pain with passive stretching? (Also accept: numbness/tingling, can't move fingers/toes, pale/cool/blue digits)