Question

application to practice s a 34-year-old woman who is ice bags were applied. She was med- She was scheduled for surgery in the being admitted to the orthopedic unit icated in the emergency room with morning to repair both fractures following a motor vehicle accident. She morphine sulfate, 2 mg intravenously 1. Explain the type of fracturest was driving her car through an inter- at 1200. The nursing admission as-patient has incurred. section when someone ran a stop sign sessment data revealed that T.J. had 2. List the top three priority nu and hit her vehicle. T.J. was diagnosed no significant medical problems. Her ing interventions for this patie in the emergency room with a com- vital signs on admission to the unit pound fracture of the left femur and a were as follows: temperature 99.2°F, 3. What are some complicatios comminuted fracture of the left ankle. pulse 90 beats per minute, respira- that this patient is at high t upon admission. When this patient arrived in the tions 24 breaths per minute, oxyfor developing? orthopedic unit at 1600, her left leg gen saturation at 95% on room air, 4, what is the significance of the was immobilized with an air cast and and blood pressure 140/80 mm Hg. patient's vital signs? PHOTOGRID

Answer 1

1. Explain the type of fractures the patient has incurred?

T.J was diagnosed with a compound fracture in left femur and a communicated fracture of the left ankle.

Another name compound fracture is an open fracture. Here, the broken bone is penetrated into the skin at the site of injury. It leads to contamination of skin and more risk for infection. The treatment for this fracture is surgery.

Communicated fracture is the break of bone into two or more than two fragments. In communicated fracture, the bones are not lined up straight. The treatment includes applying of a splint or cast and repair through a surgery.

2. priority nursing intervention:

• Assess for the signs and symptoms of infection. Rationale: Patient has an open wound which increases the risk of infection and complications.
• Assess for pain and administer pain medication. Rationale: To make the patient comfortable.
• Maintain the left lower limb rest and provide support while moving and turning. Rationale: To maintain stability and alignment and prevent complications.
• Elevate the fractured leg to prevent edema. Immobilization increases the chance of tissue swelling. Rationale: To prevent edema and risk of pressure ulcers.

3. Complication of the patient due to fracture:

• infection
• Loss of bone growth
• Loss of mobility
• Malunion or delayed union
• Necrosis
• thromboembolic disease

4. The significance of the patient's vital signs:

• Temperature: The patient should assess for the rise of temperature. Increased temperature may indicate the sign of infection.
• Pulse: pain and increased anxiety may raise the heart rate.
• Respiration: The patient has a normal respiratory rate. If the patient may show the shallow breathing and low respiratory rate should look for respiratory complication as a result of the fracture.
• Blood pressure: The swelling may increase the blood pressure and immobilization may also lead to urinary retention and increases the volume of fluid.