Inflammation/Infection Case Study Name Crystal Siercks
Mrs. Morales, a 37-year-old female, arrives at the ED immediately after falling off a curb and
injuring her right ankle, back, and right elbow. Her back has multiple large skin abrasions and the
elbow has a 2-inch long laceration. Mrs. Morales states, "I think my ankle is sprained."
1. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse expect to see at the ankle and surrounding
the abrasions? Why?
The nurse should see the inflammatory response. Loss of function, redness, swelling and pain,
maybe some abrasions and bruising.
Inflammatory response is the cellular response to in injury or infection.
Chemotaxis causes neutrophils and monocytes to head to the site of infection of injury.
Neutrophils hit it first withing 6 to 12 hours, phagocytize bacterial and debris (pus). Neutrophils
are released by the marrow and increase the WBC count; some immature neutrophils can be
released and change the WBC count in the labs. In 3-7 days, monocytes enter the scene and
transform into macrophages, they clean area for healing. Lymphocytes come last.
Mrs. Morales is diagnosed with a sprained ankle, and she is taught how to walk on crutches.
Before Mrs. Morales leaves the ED, she tells the nurse, "I think my elbow is infected."
2. How should the nurse respond to Mrs. Morales's statement?
I would first look at Mrs. Morales’ elbow and assess the situation. While assessing I would
ask her what she feels and why she thinks it is infected. This will help me see what she is
thinking and I can explain what signs to look for in an infected wound.
Two weeks later, Mrs. Morales follows up with her provider because she isn't feeling well. Her
elbow is painful to the touch, hot, edematous, red, and contains pus. Mrs. Morales's temperature
is 100° F and she states she is feeling "achy all over." The provider has ordered a CBC.
3. What laboratory values should the nurse expect to see?
Symptoms – Painful to touch Fever 100 °
Edematous Achy all over
Red Pus
The WBC count will increase, the higher the number the longer the infection has been there and worse
with the higher count. She is getting a fever and achy because the infection has spread throughout her
body and created a systemic response causing the fever and aches. If this continues and is untreated, she
may become septic.
Mrs. Morales, a 37-year-old female, arrives at the ED immediately after falling off a curb and
injuring her right ankle, back, and right elbow. Her back has multiple large skin abrasions and the
elbow has a 2-inch long laceration. Mrs. Morales states, "I think my ankle is sprained."
1. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse expect to see at the ankle and surrounding
the abrasions? Why?
The nurse should see the inflammatory response. Loss of function, redness, swelling and pain,
maybe some abrasions and bruising.
Inflammatory response is the cellular response to in injury or infection.
Chemotaxis causes neutrophils and monocytes to head to the site of infection of injury.
Neutrophils hit it first withing 6 to 12 hours, phagocytize bacterial and debris (pus). Neutrophils
are released by the marrow and increase the WBC count; some immature neutrophils can be
released and change the WBC count in the labs. In 3-7 days, monocytes enter the scene and
transform into macrophages, they clean area for healing. Lymphocytes come last.
Mrs. Morales is diagnosed with a sprained ankle, and she is taught how to walk on crutches.
Before Mrs. Morales leaves the ED, she tells the nurse, "I think my elbow is infected."
2. How should the nurse respond to Mrs. Morales's statement?
I would first look at Mrs. Morales’ elbow and assess the situation. While assessing I would
ask her what she feels and why she thinks it is infected. This will help me see what she is
thinking and I can explain what signs to look for in an infected wound.
Two weeks later, Mrs. Morales follows up with her provider because she isn't feeling well. Her
elbow is painful to the touch, hot, edematous, red, and contains pus. Mrs. Morales's temperature
is 100° F and she states she is feeling "achy all over." The provider has ordered a CBC.
3. What laboratory values should the nurse expect to see?
Symptoms – Painful to touch Fever 100 °
Edematous Achy all over
Red Pus
The WBC count will increase, the higher the number the longer the infection has been there and worse
with the higher count. She is getting a fever and achy because the infection has spread throughout her
body and created a systemic response causing the fever and aches. If this continues and is untreated, she
may become septic.
