Musculoskeletal System (Exam One) Flashcards
What will be affected if a patient has functional problems of the musculoskeletal system?
Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Why are older adults at an increased risk for falls?
- Decreased strength
- Changes in balance
Cushion deterioration will cause what in the older adult?
Loss of height
What should the nurse do if a patient has continuous falls?
Further assessment
For musculoskeletal injuries, will the nurse inspect the patients body unilaterally or bilaterally?
Bilaterally
What is crepitation?
Grating or crunching sound upon joint movement
Active range of motion is performed by the _______ for the _______?
By the patient for the patient
Passive range of motion is performed by the ________ for the _______?
By the nurse for the patient
Describe functional range of motion.
Patient can perform ADLs without having full range of motion
What is imposed on the body if assistive devices do not fit properly?
Undue strain
List the risk factors for developing a musculoskeletal disorder.
- Obesity
- Task repetition
- Trauma during childhood/adolescence
If a patient has a muscle strength grade of 5/5, this person has ______ strength/ability to move.
Most
If a patient has a muscle strength grade of 1/5, this person has ______ strength/ability to move.
Less
If a patient has a muscle strength grade of 0/5, this person has ______ strength/ability to move.
Zero
The grade 0/5 on the muscle strength scale indicates what?
Paralysis
Before receiving an MRI, the nurse must check the patient for what?
Any source of metal
What diagnostic procedure can not be performed on a patient who has a pacemaker?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Before performing a diagnostic test utilizing contrast, the nurse should assess the patient for what?
Shellfish allergies
What color of fluid removed from a joint cavity should be concerning to the nurse?
- Cloudy
- Milky
What should the nurse do before performing a diagnostic test on a patient?
Educate the patient
What does a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement assess for?
Osteoporosis
What does a bone scan assess for?
Avascular necrosis
What laboratory tests are considered specialized and do not usually occur in the acute care setting?
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
- Anti-DNA antibody
Rhabdomyolysis causes an increase in what laboratory value?
Creatinine kinase
Spinal cord injuries are usually caused by what?
Trauma
When will a secondary injury occur?
Occur after primary injury
Secondary injuries are usually __________.
Preventable
The nurse knows she should avoid moving a patient with a suspected spinal cord injury because it can cause what?
Secondary injury
List factors that can cause or result in a secondary injury.
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Ischemia
- Movement of body fragments
What medication might the patient receive to aid in edema control?
Steroids
The extent of damage caused by a spinal cord injury and prognosis for recovery is most accurately determined during what time frame?
72 hours or more after injury
When does the most improvement occur following a spinal cord injury?
Three to six months
Permanent damage from a spinal cord injury may occur within how many hours following the injury? Why?
- 24 hours
- Due to edema
How long does spinal shock last?
Less than 48 hours
What is occurring within the body during neurogenic shock?
Blood is rushing to the extremities and is not staying where it is supposed to
Where do spinal shock and neurogenic shock occur?
Below the level of injury
List the signs and symptoms of neurogenic shock.
- Sudden and drastic hypotension
- Bradycardia
- Warm, flushed skin
- Irregular circulation
Neurogenic shock may be mistaken for what other medical emergency? What must the nurse do?
- Bleeding out
- Assess the situation
What type of shock is temporary?
Spinal shock
What type of shock is a medical emergency?
Neurogenic shock
List the signs and symptoms of spinal shock.
- Flaccid paralysis
- Decreased reflexes
- Loss of sensation
- Absent thermoregulation
- Bradycardia
What is flaccid paralysis?
Loose and floppy limbs
If a spinal injury occurs above C4 the patient will have a total loss of what function?
Respiratory function
What occurs at the skeletal level of injury?
Most damage to bones and ligaments
Spinal cord injuries are classified by what four criteria?
- Mechanism of injury
- Skeletal level of injury
- Neurological level of injury
- Degree of injury
If a patient has a cervical spinal cord injury, what is the nursing priority?
Frequent respiratory assessments
Patients with a thoracic spinal cord injury are at an increased risk for what? Why?
- Pneumonia
- Aspiration
- Atelectasis
-Due to ineffective coughing
Swelling will always travel in what direction with a spinal cord injury?
UP
Manifestations of a spinal cord injury are dependent upon what factor?
Level of injury
Describe a complete injury.
Total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury
Describe an incomplete (partial) injury.
Mixed loss of voluntary motor activity and sensation
Some tracts remain intact with what degree of injury?
Incomplete (partial)
What is the preferred and considered the first line diagnostic test?
CT Scan
Vertebral artery injury that affects blood flow will cause impaired blood flow to what other organ?
Brain
What diagnostic test is used to rule out vertebral artery injury?
CT angiogram
What causes veins to collapse?
Blood loss
Why is timely decompression vital with spinal cord injuries?
Maintain blood flow
What is the purpose of traction in a spinal cord injury?
- Realign
- Decompress
The nurse knows the patient is at an increased risk of developing what condition if they have an immobilization device in place?
Infection
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with an immobilization device?
Cleaning the pin sites
List the different immobilization devices.
- Crutchfield
- Vinke
- Gardner
How does a halo vest differ from other immobilization devices?
Allows more mobility
An immobilized patient is at an increased risk for developing what conditions?
- Blood clots
- Pressure ulcers
- Atelectasis
- Pneumonia
What is the purpose of a TLSO jacket?
Prevents excessive twisting of body
Patients with spinal cord injuries involving the T6 nerve or higher are at an increased risk of developing what syndrome?
Autonomic dysreflexia
Describe autonomic dysreflexia.
Sympathetic reaction of the body to a certain type of stimulus
List the most common cause of autonomic dysreflexia.
Distended bladder or rectum
A patient with a spinal cord injury begins to complain of a headache, what is the nurses priority?
Take patients blood pressure
List the clinical manifestations of autonomic dysreflexia.
- Hypertension
- Throbbing headache
- Diaphoresis above injury level
- Bradycardia
What is the priority nursing intervention for a patient with autonomic dysreflexia?
Find the causative source and remove it
What type of injury should be reduced as soon as possible?
Dislocation
What is the most common sports injury?
ACL injury
List the signs and symptoms of strains and sprains.
- Pain
- Edema
- Decreased function
What is the primary treatment for strains and sprints?
- RICE
- Analgesics
- Elevation above heart
What is the priority concern with an open fracture?
Infection
What is an open fracture?
Open wound near site of broken bone
What is the priority treatment for an open fracture?
Immediate surgical fixation
What must be done to bones that have been displaced?
Must be reduced and put back into alignment
What is the overall goal of fracture treatment?
Restore body to previously injured state
Describe a closed reduction of a fracture.
Nonsurgical, manual realignment of bones
What must be applied following a closed reduction?
Immobilization device
The nurse knows if a patient has a fracture that is not aligned properly, the physician will have to do what?
Reduce and realign properly
Slings are commonly used to immobilize what part of the body?
Upper arm
What type of traction is used for severe breaks?
Skeletal traction
What type of traction is considered a temporary fix until surgery can be performed?
Buck’s traction
What are the two most common types of traction?
- Skin traction (Bucks)
- Skeletral traction
Describe an open reduction of a fracture.
Surgical incision using internal fixation
Open reduction will lead to what?
- Earlier range of motion of the joint
- Earlier ambulation
If a bone has been crushed, what type of fixation will have to be done?
External fixation
If attempting to salvage an extremity, what type of fixation will have to be done?
External fixation
What type of education will the nurse provide to a patient with external fixation?
- How to clean pin sites
- Signs and symptoms of infection
How do steroid medications affect healing?
Slow healing
List the 6 P’s of a neurovascular assessment.
- Pain
- Pallor - color
- Paresthesia - sensation
- Paralysis - movement
- Pulselessness
- Pressure
A capillary refill that exceed’s _____ seconds is of concern and the nurse should call the doctor.
5 seconds