Assessment
The office nurse has noted the presence of an increase in lumbar curvature in a 20-year-old female patient. What is the condition known as?
Lordosis
A client is diagnosed with a fractured tibia. He is receiving a short leg cast. The process for casting is as follows:
Stockinette, cotton wadding, casting material
While receiving report, you are told the patient is receiving skin traction. What would the maximum weight in pounds he should have?
10 pounds
Crutch walking involving the ___________ gait is used most commonly for patients wearing leg casts.
Three-point
A painful disorder of the wrist and hand caused by inflammation and edema of the synovial lining of the tendon sheaths in the wrist is called _______________.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The nurse is caring for a client who has suffered a contusion. Which of the following treatments might the nurse use to cause vasoconstriction and reduce edema?
Cold compresses for 15-20 minute periods over the first 12-36 hours
A nurse assesses a casted right leg and finds that the toes are slightly puffy. Which of these actions should the nurse take?
Elevate the right leg
The nurse is providing care to a client who is in traction to stabilize an upper arm fracture before surgery. Which of the following types of traction is being used?
Dunlop’s traction
___________ is the most common soft tissue injury, caused by a blow or blunt force trauma.
Contusion
A physician is explaining a diagnosis of scoliosis to a twelve-year-old female and her parent. Which is an accurate description provided by the physician?
S curvature of the spine
Which assessments would be included in a neurovascular check?
Capillary refill, movement, temperature and pulses distal to site of injury
Bivalving a cast involves splitting the cast and wrapping the affected extremity with an ace wrap. Bivalving a cast is performed to assure:
Performed to relieve pressure
A patient, age 68, has suffered an intertrochanteric fracture of the right hip. Before surgery, to provide support and comfort, the following is applied for support and comfort:
Buck traction
The patient is describing the signs and symptoms she is experiencing recently in her right arm and hand. The nurse knows the symptoms of “paresthesia” are correctly defined as:
Any subjective sensation, such as prickling, “pins and needles” feeling or numbness
In the physician’s office, the nurse is answering the patient’s questions about her back injury. The nurse knows the most common symptom of lumbar herniated disc is:
Pain that radiates over the buttock and down the leg
A patient who has had a right below the knee amputation continues to complain of unpleasant sensation in the right foot. What can the nurse explain about this “phantom pain”?
It is related to the severed or damaged nerves that are still sending messages to the brain
A patient has arrived to the emergency department with a bone fracture and the physician is planning to apply a cast. The nurse knows the considerations for material selection for casting an extremity includes the following:
Location of fracture and time needed for healing to occur
Your patient is returning from surgery for his compound fracture to his femur. He is being placed in Russell’s traction. The following is true of Russell’s traction:
It is used with a knee sling to support the leg
A male patient was diagnosed with Osteogenic sarcoma 12 months ago. Today, the patient is being assessed for possible complications related to his malignancy. The physician informs the patient that cancerous bone tumors:
Cancerous bone tumors can metastasize and invade other bones and lung tissue
Nurse, Lauren, is caring for a patient with a herniated disc. The nurse knows that ______ and ________ herniations are the most common herniated intervertebral disks.
Lumbar, Cervical
The nursing student completing her orthopedic classes, has learned that the most significant sign of a malignant bone tumor is:
Pathologic fracture
A client with a recent leg fracture has received a plaster cast 24 hours ago. The patient is sitting in the chair and begins to complain of tightness and discomfort. As the nurse, you know the danger of edema is usually experienced:
Within 24 to 48 hours
A nurse is caring for a client who is in balanced suspension traction. Which type of fracture is being treated with this device?
Femur
Crutch safety includes assuring proper fit and safety measures. The nurse, Chelsie, explains to the patient this includes all of the following:
Assuring rubber tips on the ends of the crutches
Assuring adequate upper body strength for proper use of the crutches
Leaving two inches width between the axillary fold and the arm piece of the crutches
A patient with a leg amputation is being taught prone positioning. The therapist and the nurse explain to the patient the prone position is used BID to:
Stretch the flexor muscles