CHAP 30

Question 1

angulated fracture

Answer 1

fracture in which the broken bone segments are at an angle to each other

Question 2

closed extremity injury

Answer 2

an injury to an extremity with no associated opening in the skin

Question 3

comminuted fracture

Answer 3

a fracture in which the bone is broken in several places

Question 4

compartment syndrome

Answer 4

injury caused when tissues such as blood vessels and nerves are constricted within a space as from swelling or from a tight dressing or cast.

Question 5

greenstick fracture

Answer 5

an incomplete fracture

Question 6

manual traction

Answer 6

the process of applying tensions to straighten and realigned a fracture limb before splinting. Also called tension

Question 7

sprain

Answer 7

the stretching and tearing of ligaments

Question 8

strain

Answer 8

muscle injury resulting from over stretching the muscle

Question 9

traction splint

Answer 9

a splint that applies constant pull along the length of a lower extremity to help stabilize the fractured bone and reduce muscle spasm in the limb. Used primarily for femoral shaft fractures.

Question 10

Identify the signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal injury

Answer 10

pain and tenderness; deformity or angulation; grating, crepitus;swelling bruising, exposed bone ends, joints locked into position, and nerve and blood vessels compromised.

Question 11

Describe basic emergency care for pain, swollen, or deformed extremities.

Answer 11

After assessing any life threats, all swollen, deformed patients must be splinted,
Stable patient - splint before back board and transport
Unstable patient - immobilize whole body on back board. load and go

Question 12

Explain why angulated deformed injuries to the long board should be realigned to the anatomical position.

Answer 12

in order to restore effective circulation to the affected extremity then splint.

Question 13

List the basic principles of splinting

Answer 13

• expose area and control breathing
• Assess pulse, motor, sensory, before and after splint
• Align long bone with gentle traction if severe deform
• Splint to immobilize injury site and adjacent joints.
• splint before moving

Question 14

Critical thinking: List three assessment findings that you would use to determine your musculoskeletal patient is in shock.

Answer 14

Vital sign change
Altered LOC,
pale, cool and clammy
nausea and vomit

Question 15

Patients who suffer fractures can be in extreme pain. Pain can cause anxiety and elevated pulse rates. How could you differentiate between a patient with a rapid pulse and anxiety from pain versus a patient with rapid pulse and anxiety from shock?

Answer 15

Ability to conduct a thorough assessment and recognizing stable and unstable patients. Some signs might be low bp, altered loc, pale, cool, clammy skin.
Late signs: thirst, dilated pupils, and cyanosis

Question 16

Why do broken bones cause shock?

Answer 16

Because they are living vascular structured that carry rich blood. Can interrupt millions of tiny vessels interfering with the bone tissue, leading to significant bleeding.

Question 17

Why would you attempt to straighten an extremity that has no pulses distal to the extremity?

Answer 17

When circulation is compromised, tissues beyond the injury become starved for oxygen and die.

Question 18

Can a patient have a fracture without obvious deformity? Explain your answer.

Answer 18

greenstick fractures, and comminuted fractures.