A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome is being treated conservatively. Which information would the nurse provide?
1. "Your wrist will be casted for the first 3 weeks, followed by a protective splint for the next 6 to 8 weeks.".
2. "Exercise your wrist for complete rotation and ROM every 4 hours while awake.".
3. "Wear a brace or wrist splint at night and during activities that aggravate the symptoms.".
4. "Wear an external hinge splint to support the wrist for several months.".
3
Rationale 1: Wearing a cast for several weeks followed by a sprint applies to wrist arthroplasty, not endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
Rationale 2: Exercising the wrist will increase strain and cause more swelling that will delay the healing process.
Rationale 3: Wearing a brace or splint will keep the wrist in a natural position during sleep and will offer support during activities that aggravate the symptoms.
Rationale 4: A hinge splint is designed for elbow surgery, not for carpal tunnel syndrome.
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