Unit 5 MS Trauma Flashcards
What should be the initial nursing assessment for a suspected MS injury?
- Ensure scene safety
- Get help
- Ensure ABC
- Control external breathing
- Provide PT comfort/psychosocial support
- Do not leave PT alone
What is the nursing management of a known MS trauma?
-Initial treatment of injured site
Neurovascular status distal to injury
Splint joints above and below fracture sites
Elevate if possible
Do not attempt to straighten fractured or dislocated joint or manipulate protruding bones
Pain management
Prepare dx tests
What are the two parts two a neurovascular assessment?
Peripheral vascular assessment:
- Color
- Temp
- Cap refill
- Distal pulses
- Edema
Peripheral neurological assessment
- Sensation
- Pain
- Motor function
What are diagnostic tests for MS injuries?
X-rays (joints, bones, muscles)
Arthrogram ( x-rays to obtain a series of pictures of a joint after a contrast material injected into it)
Bone scan - injects radioisotope (couple hrs before exam) via IV, camera scans entire body front and back
EMG - looks at health of muscles; the nerves
MRI - soft tissues
CT scan (if contrast needs to be NPO)
What needs to be asked prior to a PT ingesting contrast before a diagnostic test?
Ask if the PT is allergic to seafood or Iodine
What are types of soft tissue injuries?
Strain - tear in muscle or tendon
Sprain - stretching or tearing of ligaments (3-6 weeks to heal)
Avulsion fracture - Small chunk of bone that pulls away from the rest
Hemarthrosis - Bleeding in joint w/o other trauma
Dislocation - injury to joint (where to or more bones come together)
What is the nursing care for a dislocated joint?
Pain management
Support joint
Protect from injury
What s and s’s are suggestive of a fracture? What acronym helps?
B ruising pain R educed movement O dd appearance K racking sounds! E dema and Erythema N umbeness and neurovascular impairment
What are possible causes of fractures?
Contact sports
MVA
Falls
Osteoporosis
Where are common fracture locations?
Hip/Femur
Ulnar/Radius/Humeral (usually from putting hands out when falling)
Tibia/Fibula (bone may break through skin with these)
Pelvic (open and closed with high incident of hemorrhage)
After casting what nursing intervention is especially important?
Neurovascular assessment Q2h
What are the classifications of fractures according to type/communication?
Closed
Open/compound (breaks through skin)
Comminuted (tiny fragments)
Displaced (broken and shifted)
Oblique (harry potter going down)
Spiral (usually twisting injury)
Impacted
Greenstick (hook going up; usually seen in pediatric PT’s)
What is the fracture healing process? What could delay it?
- Inflammation then granulation
- Repair
- Remodeling
Infections, systemic diseases, etc.
What are the types of treatments for fractures and general description?
- Traction (decrease muscle spasms, correct deformity)
- Closed and Open reduction (simple fractures
- Bandages/Splints (for Non-weight bearing bones)
- Casts (for complex fractures/lower extremities
- Slings (for elbow and shoulder)
* *want to avoid frozen shoulder**
What are the therapeutic purpose of tractions?
Align and immobilize
Reducing muscle spasms
To lessen, prevent, or correct deformity
May be used as primary treatment or prior to Sx