Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Conditions Flashcards

After a total knee replacement, which assessment finding requires the most immediate nursing action?

Answer: Sudden onset of calf pain, redness, and warmth

Sudden calf pain, redness, and warmth after knee replacement are classic signs of DVT, which requires immediate assessment and provider notification.

A patient with a spinal compression fracture related to osteoporosis reports sudden severe back pain. The nurse's priority action is to:

Answer: Assess neurological function of the lower extremities

A spinal compression fracture can cause cord compression; assessing neurological function of the lower extremities detects potential motor or sensory deficits.

A patient with a fractured hip is placed in Buck's traction pre-operatively. The PRIMARY purpose is to:

Answer: Reduce muscle spasm and pain while maintaining alignment

Buck's traction is applied pre-operatively to reduce painful muscle spasms and maintain alignment of the fractured hip until surgical repair.

The nurse is caring for a patient with Paget's disease of bone. Which laboratory finding is expected?

Answer: Markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase reflects the high rate of abnormal bone remodeling (osteoblastic activity) characteristic of Paget's disease.

A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a patient using crutches after a lower extremity fracture. Which instruction is correct for three-point non-weight-bearing gait?

Answer: Move both crutches and the affected leg forward together, then swing the unaffected leg through

In three-point gait, both crutches and the injured extremity advance together, followed by the unaffected leg, keeping all weight off the injured limb.

A patient with ankylosing spondylitis requires which nursing intervention to maintain optimal function?

Answer: Encourage upright posture and spinal extension exercises

Maintaining upright posture and performing spinal extension exercises helps prevent the progressive kyphotic spinal deformity of ankylosing spondylitis.