Week 7 Musculoskeletal and Neurovascular System

paraesthesia - numbness and tingling, first sign of electrolyte imbalance what are the 6 P's of an assessment for signs and symptoms of a neurovascular deficit should include... - - pain (early sign) - paraesthesia (early sign) -palpation (early sign) - paralysis (late sign) - pallor (late sign) - pulses (late sign) - capillary refill (late sign) - temperature (late sign) what do neurovascular observations provide in terms of essential information? - 1 nerve damage, 2 compromised blood supply, and/or 3 compartment syndrome. acute compartment syndrome - an acute condition that occurs when pressure increases within a confined space in the body, resulting in a reduction of blood flow to the tissue contained within that compartment space what does acute compartment syndrome result in? - muscle, nerve and tissue ischaemia. what is the typical cause of acute compartment syndrome? - traumatic event, commonly fracture or vascular injury. where are tissue compartments found? - legs, arms, hands, abdomen, buttocks and skull what are the other causes of acute compartment syndrome? - minor trauma, thrombosis, bleeding disorders, vascular disease, animal bites, injection of recreational drugs what causes pain and decreased sensation in acute compartment syndrome? - lack of oxygenated blood and the accumulation of waste products. what are the early findings of a neurovascular deficit? - pain paraesthesia - loss of sensation palpation - firm, tense, tight what are the features of pain caused by compartment syndrome? - pain with passive stretch of muscles in the affected compartment. pain is out of proportion to injury pain is unrelieved by narcotics what are the late findings of a neurovascular deficit? - paralysis pallor pulses temperature what are the features of paralysis caused by compartment syndrome? - decrease or loss in movement may indicate possible irreversible nerve or muscle damage what are the features of pallor caused by compartment syndrome? - shiny, tense, swollen skin distal to injury. change in pallor is due to increased capillary pressure and a reduction in blood flow extremity may also be present with cyanosis or be mottled what are the features of pulses caused by compartment syndrome? - reduced or absent peripheral pulses are related to poor perfusion.