The nurse plans care for four patients receiving heat therapy. Which patient admission diagnosis presents the highest risk of injury to an extremity?

Question

a. Osteoarthritis
b. Nephrolithiasis
c. Chronic bronchitis
d. Peripheral neuropathy

Answer 1

D
The patient admitted for a peripheral neuropathy has the highest risk for a heat therapy injury because he or she has impaired sensation to the extremities, meaning that the patient has diffi-culty sensing pain, heat, and pressure. This patient is more likely to incur tissue damage from heat therapy because he or she has impaired ability to sense excessive heat. The patient with os-teoarthritis can have a slightly higher risk of thermal injury from heat therapy if patient mobility is impaired because a self-protective mechanism is withdrawal from noxious sensations such as excessive heat. Patients with nephrolithiasis, kidney stones, and chronic bronchitis can be suitable candidates for heat therapy because these diagnoses are unrelated to peripheral perfusion, sensation, or movement.