A boy who has fractured his forearm is unable to extend his fingers. The nurse knows that this
a. Is normal following this type of injury
b. May indicate compartmental syndrome
c. May indicate fat embolism
d. May indicate damage to the epiphyseal plate
B
Feedback
A This is not normal and indicates neurovascular compromise of some type.
Paresthesia or numbness or loss of feeling can indicate a serious problem and
can result in paralysis.
B Swelling causes pressure to rise within the immobilizing device leading to
compartmental syndrome. Signs include severe pain, often unrelieved by
analgesics, and neurovascular impairment. It is not uncommon in the forearm, so
the inability to extend the fingers may indicate compartmental syndrome.
C The inability to extend the fingers often indicates neurovascular compromise. Fat
embolism causes respiratory distress with hypoxia and respiratory acidosis.
D This is not related to damage to the epiphyseal plate.
You might also like to view...
When providing a clinical reference guide to a client on MAOI drug therapy, which over-the-counter medications should be highlighted to avoid?
A) Cold and allergy medications B) Antiulcer medications C) Multivitamins D) Laxatives
A woman with moderate migraine headaches asks a nurse why the provider has ordered metoclopramide [Reglan] as an adjunct to aspirin therapy, because she does not usually expe-rience nausea and vomiting with her migraines
The nurse will tell her that the metoclopramide is used to: a. help induce sleep. b. improve absorption of the aspirin. c. prevent gastric irritation caused by the aspirin. d. prolong the effects of the aspirin.
Meaningful Use refers to:
a. receiving the EHR incentive payments for Meaningful Use. b. meeting all the Meaningful Use criteria. c. leveraging the EHR to facilitate practice and payment change for healthcare transformation. d. attesting to Meaningful Use.
While conducting an assessment, the nurse asks the patient to rate her pain, with 1 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain she ever experienced. The nurse is utilizing which therapeutic communication technique?
1. Focusing 2. Encouraging comparison 3. Offering self 4. Accepting