, MED SURG 201 Final Exam With Complete
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A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured hip and was placed in
Buck's traction 4 hr ago. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
a. Inspect the client's skin underneath the boot every 12 hr
b. Encourage the client to perform dorsiflexion of the affected extremity
every 2 hr
c. Remove the weights from the traction while repositioning the client
in bed
d. Loosen the ropes if the client reports muscle spasms in the affected
extremity - ANSWER -B. Encourage the client to perform dorsiflexion of
the affected extremity every 2 hr ---The nurse should encourage the
client to perform dorsiflexion of the affected extremity every 2 hours to
assess if the client is experiencing nerve damage. Weakness of
dorsiflexion can indicate peroneal nerve damage. If this occurs, the
nurse should notify the provider immediately.
Incorrect Answers:
A. The nurse should inspect the client's skin underneath the boot for
irritation, increased swelling, and skin breakdown every 8 hours.
pg. 2
,C. The weights should never be removed without a prescription from
the provider. The purpose of the weights is to decrease muscle spasms
as a result of the hip fracture.
D. The ropes of the traction should never be loosened. This can affect
the traction and increase the client's muscle spasms.
A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured right hip. Which of the
following types of traction should the nurse expect the client to have
prior to hip arthroplasty surgery?
a. Balanced skeletal traction
b. Pelvic belt
c. Pelvic sling
d. Buck's traction - ANSWER -D. Buck's traction---Buck's traction is used
prior to hip arthroplasty to maintain alignment and prevent muscle
spasms prior to surgery.
Incorrect Answers:
A. Balanced skeletal traction is used to stabilize fractures of the femur
or pelvis, not the hip. Skeletal traction involves the surgical insertion of
pins, tongs, wires, or screws; this is sometimes used to stabilize long
bone and vertebral fractures. B. A pelvic belt is used to treat back pain
and does not provide traction prior to hip arthroplasty.
C. A pelvic sling is used to stabilize pelvic fractures, not hip fractures.
pg. 3
, A nurse is caring for a client with a hip fracture who has Buck's
extension traction in place. Which of the following pieces of information
should the nurse give the client about this type of traction? (Select all
that apply.)
a. "You'll have considerably less pain with the traction in place."
b. "You'll have the traction in place for a week or so."
c. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
d. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
e. "We have to make sure the weights are just barely touching the
floor." - ANSWER -A. "You'll have considerably less pain with the
traction in place."
C. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
D. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
Pain is usually more severe without the traction. Buck's extension
traction uses weights to help decrease muscle spasms. Typically, 2.3 to
5.5 kg (5 to 10 lb) of force helps stabilize the hip and leg preoperatively.
A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to undergo surgery to
repair an open hip fracture. In which of the following positions should
the nurse plan to place the client postoperatively?
a. With the leg on the affected side adducted
b. With the hip externally rotated on the affected side
c. With the leg on the affected side abducted
pg. 4