Fractures
This type of fracture is incomplete and commonly occurs in children due to flexible bones.
What is a greenstick fracture?
This type of fracture can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.
What is a pelvic and/or long-bone fracture?
This is the most common cause of injury in children.
What are falls?
A patient with a new cast asks how to reduce swelling. The nurse should instruct the patient to:
What is elevate the extremity above the level of the heart?
This is the correct action when traction weights are resting on the floor.
What is fix the weights so they hang freely?
This is the term for a fracture in which the bone breaks through the skin.
What is an open (compound) fracture?
This complication of long bone fractures presents with hypoxia, confusion, and petechiae.
What is a fat embolism?
This type of fracture raises concern for possible abuse in a child.
What is a spiral fracture?
This is the first-line conservative treatment that is taught to patients for musculoskeletal injuries:
What is RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)?
This should be used during the first 24–48 hours after an acute musculoskeletal injury.
What is ice (or cold therapy)?
A patient with a suspected fracture has severe pain and swelling. What is the priority initial nursing action?
What is immobilize the extremity?
This condition occurs after immobility and presents with calf pain, swelling, and warmth.
What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
This device is used to maintain proper hip alignment in infants with developmental dysplasia.
What is a Pavlik harness?
Teaching a patient to avoid alcohol and limit purine-rich foods like red meat and organ meats is essential to prevent flare-ups of this condition.
What is gout?
This is the correct limb position for suspected compartment syndrome.
What is keep the limb at heart level?
This surgical procedure uses metal plates, screws, or rods to stabilize a fracture.
What is ORIF?
An open fracture increases the risk for this serious bone infection requiring prolonged treatment.
What is osteomyelitis?
A child with scoliosis is often first identified by this physical finding.
What is uneven shoulders (or asymmetry of the spine)?
A patient with a cast should report this symptom immediately.
What is numbness or tingling?
A patient with a cast reports numbness and tingling. This is the nurse’s priority action.
What is assess neurovascular status?
An older adult presents with a shortened, externally rotated leg after a fall. This injury is most likely.
What is a hip fracture?
Severe pain unrelieved by medication and pain with passive movement after a fracture suggests this condition.
What is compartment syndrome?
A child has injuries in various stages of healing and a caregiver explanation that does not match. This is the nurse’s priority action.
What is report suspected abuse?
Neurovascular assessment for musculoskeletal injuries includes assessing for what thing?
What is pain, pulses, paralysis, pallor, paresthesias, & pressure?
This is the correct action if a patient with a herniated disc develops loss of bowel or bladder control.
What is notify the provider immediately (possible cauda equina syndrome)?