Musculoskeletal Care Flashcards
7 cards from real MSNCB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Musculoskeletal Care flashcards as text
A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develops new avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The most likely contributing factor is:
Answer: Long-term high-dose corticosteroid therapy
Long-term corticosteroid use is the most common cause of avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) by impairing blood supply to bone.
A patient with a cervical spine injury is placed in halo traction. Which nursing action is the priority?
Answer: Ensure a wrench is taped to the halo vest at all times for emergency vest removal
A wrench must be immediately accessible to remove the halo vest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A nurse is caring for a patient in Buck's traction. Which action is correct?
Answer: Ensure the rope moves freely in the pulley with weights hanging freely
Effective skin traction requires that weights hang freely without touching the floor and that the rope moves unobstructed through the pulley.
A patient is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Which conservative treatment should the nurse reinforce first?
Answer: Wrist splinting in neutral position, especially at night
Wrist splinting in neutral position reduces median nerve compression and is first-line conservative management for carpal tunnel syndrome.
When caring for a patient with a dislocated hip prosthesis, the nurse should position the affected limb:
Answer: In slight abduction and extension pending surgical reduction
A dislocated hip prosthesis is immobilized in slight abduction and extension to reduce further tissue injury until closed or open reduction.
A patient with multiple myeloma is at highest risk for which musculoskeletal complication?
Answer: Pathologic fractures due to osteolytic lesions
Multiple myeloma causes osteolytic bone lesions that weaken bone structure, placing patients at high risk for pathologic fractures.
A nurse is assessing a patient who sustained a crush injury to the leg 8 hours ago. Creatine kinase (CK) is 28,000 U/L and urine is dark brown. The priority nursing concern is:
Answer: Acute kidney injury from myoglobinuria
Markedly elevated CK and dark urine indicate rhabdomyolysis; myoglobin precipitates in renal tubules, causing acute kidney injury requiring aggressive IV hydration.