Orthopedic Nursing Care Questions &
Answers(RATED A+)
What is the most commonly reported injuries? - ANSWERContusions, Strains, and
Sprains.
Contusion - ANSWERBlunt force-bleeding into soft tissue, but skin remains intact.
(Swelling, discoloration of skin) Least serious
Strain - ANSWERStretching injury to a muscle or a muscle-tendon unit. Caused by
mechanical overloading. (Pain, limited motion, muscle spasms/weakness, swelling.)
Most common: lower abck and Hamstring muscle
Sprain - ANSWERStretch/tear of ligaments surrounding joint. (Loss of the ability to
move or use the joint, feeling a "pop" or tear, discoloration, pain, rapid swelling.)
Most common: ankles and knees
RICE - ANSWERRest Ice Compression Elevation 24-48hrs do RICE.
Joint dislocation - ANSWERTrauma or illness forces ends of the bones from normal
position. (Pain, deformity, limited motion, shorter limb) Care: Reduction by manual
traction or surgery immobilization, hip dislocation requires immediate reduction to
prevent complications to prevent necrosis.
Subluxation - ANSWERpartial dislocation is which the bones of the joint remain in
partial contact
Necrosis - ANSWERDeath of bone tissue
Electrical Bone Stimulation - ANSWERUsed to treat fractures that aren't healing
appropriately, increases migration of osteoblasts and osteoclasts to fracture
site.Application of an electrical current
What to do for fracture of the skull? - ANSWERAssess patient for neurologic
changes, document LOC, depressed skull fracture can cause neurologic damage.
Fracture Care - ANSWEREmergency Care: Immobilize the fracture, maintain tissue
perfusion, prevent infection. Medications: Analgesics, NSAIDs,
antibiotics,anticoagulants, stool softeners, antacids. Surgery: External fixation
device, ORIF
Fracture of the Face - ANSWERManifestations: Hematoma, pain, edema, bony
deformity. Focus on airway, assess neurologic, body image disturbance, assess pain
Fracture of the Spine - ANSWERCervical, lumbar, thoracic, or sacral...damage to
spinal cord. MOST SEVERE, can result in ischemia and cause permanent paralysis.
, Fracture of the Clavicle - ANSWERUsually midclavicular, can damage subclavian
vessels or lung. Seen most common with falls
Fracture of Humerus - ANSWERComplications: nerve and ligament damage, frozen
or stiff joints, and malunion--fractured fragments are not in good position... Fractures
of the proximal humerus are more common in older adults.
Fracture of the Elbow - ANSWERUsually distal humerus, common complications:
nerve or artery damage, hemiartrosis, Volkmann's contracture (claw deformity of
hand and fingers). Fall or direct blow is main report.
Fracture of the radius and/or ulna - ANSWERComplication: compartment syndrome,
delayed healing, decreased wrist and finger movement, infection. Care: alleviate
pain, immobilization, education. ***Tell MD if changes in sensation
Wrist Fractures - ANSWERColle's Fracture: the distal radius fractures after a fall
onto an outstretched hand. Patient presents with bony deformity, pain, numbness,
weakness, decreased ROM of fingers.
Hand Fractures - ANSWERUsually metacarpals and phalanges (Pain, edema,
decreased ROM) Complications: compartment syndrome, nerve damage, ligament
damage, delayed union.
Fracture of the Ribs - ANSWERBlunt chest trauma, Can damage the spleen, liver,
subclavian artery, or vein. Flail chest; Complications: pulmonary contusion,
pnuemothorax and or hemothorax, pneumonia, intra-abdominal bleeding
Flail Chest - ANSWERresults from the fracture of two or more adjacent ribs in two or
more places and the formation of a free-floating segment that moves in the opposite
direction of the rib cage.Care: coughing, deep breathing, and splinting.
Fracture of the Pelvis - ANSWERCaused by trauma, patient presents with back or
hip pain. Complications: hemorrhage, damage to pelvic and extra-pelvic organs.
Care: Tx discomfort, maintaining immobilization, and identify potential complications.
Fracture of the Shaft of the femur - ANSWEREdema, deformity, pain in the thigh,
inability to move hip or knee. Complications: hypovolemia, fat embolism, hip and/or
knee dislocation, muscle atrophy, ligament damage. Provide pain meds, provide
reassurance and decreasing anxiety, assist with exercises of the lower legs, feet,
and toes. Circulation and sensation in affected extremity;skeletal traction, internal or
external fixation
Intracapsular Fractures - ANSWERinvolve the head or neck of the femur...MOST
SERIOUS
Extracapsular Fractures - ANSWERInvolves the trochanteric region
Fracture of the Hip - ANSWERIntracapsular or extracapsular. Risks: Lower body
weakness, problems walking/balance, taking 4 or more meds or psychoacitve meds.
Answers(RATED A+)
What is the most commonly reported injuries? - ANSWERContusions, Strains, and
Sprains.
Contusion - ANSWERBlunt force-bleeding into soft tissue, but skin remains intact.
(Swelling, discoloration of skin) Least serious
Strain - ANSWERStretching injury to a muscle or a muscle-tendon unit. Caused by
mechanical overloading. (Pain, limited motion, muscle spasms/weakness, swelling.)
Most common: lower abck and Hamstring muscle
Sprain - ANSWERStretch/tear of ligaments surrounding joint. (Loss of the ability to
move or use the joint, feeling a "pop" or tear, discoloration, pain, rapid swelling.)
Most common: ankles and knees
RICE - ANSWERRest Ice Compression Elevation 24-48hrs do RICE.
Joint dislocation - ANSWERTrauma or illness forces ends of the bones from normal
position. (Pain, deformity, limited motion, shorter limb) Care: Reduction by manual
traction or surgery immobilization, hip dislocation requires immediate reduction to
prevent complications to prevent necrosis.
Subluxation - ANSWERpartial dislocation is which the bones of the joint remain in
partial contact
Necrosis - ANSWERDeath of bone tissue
Electrical Bone Stimulation - ANSWERUsed to treat fractures that aren't healing
appropriately, increases migration of osteoblasts and osteoclasts to fracture
site.Application of an electrical current
What to do for fracture of the skull? - ANSWERAssess patient for neurologic
changes, document LOC, depressed skull fracture can cause neurologic damage.
Fracture Care - ANSWEREmergency Care: Immobilize the fracture, maintain tissue
perfusion, prevent infection. Medications: Analgesics, NSAIDs,
antibiotics,anticoagulants, stool softeners, antacids. Surgery: External fixation
device, ORIF
Fracture of the Face - ANSWERManifestations: Hematoma, pain, edema, bony
deformity. Focus on airway, assess neurologic, body image disturbance, assess pain
Fracture of the Spine - ANSWERCervical, lumbar, thoracic, or sacral...damage to
spinal cord. MOST SEVERE, can result in ischemia and cause permanent paralysis.
, Fracture of the Clavicle - ANSWERUsually midclavicular, can damage subclavian
vessels or lung. Seen most common with falls
Fracture of Humerus - ANSWERComplications: nerve and ligament damage, frozen
or stiff joints, and malunion--fractured fragments are not in good position... Fractures
of the proximal humerus are more common in older adults.
Fracture of the Elbow - ANSWERUsually distal humerus, common complications:
nerve or artery damage, hemiartrosis, Volkmann's contracture (claw deformity of
hand and fingers). Fall or direct blow is main report.
Fracture of the radius and/or ulna - ANSWERComplication: compartment syndrome,
delayed healing, decreased wrist and finger movement, infection. Care: alleviate
pain, immobilization, education. ***Tell MD if changes in sensation
Wrist Fractures - ANSWERColle's Fracture: the distal radius fractures after a fall
onto an outstretched hand. Patient presents with bony deformity, pain, numbness,
weakness, decreased ROM of fingers.
Hand Fractures - ANSWERUsually metacarpals and phalanges (Pain, edema,
decreased ROM) Complications: compartment syndrome, nerve damage, ligament
damage, delayed union.
Fracture of the Ribs - ANSWERBlunt chest trauma, Can damage the spleen, liver,
subclavian artery, or vein. Flail chest; Complications: pulmonary contusion,
pnuemothorax and or hemothorax, pneumonia, intra-abdominal bleeding
Flail Chest - ANSWERresults from the fracture of two or more adjacent ribs in two or
more places and the formation of a free-floating segment that moves in the opposite
direction of the rib cage.Care: coughing, deep breathing, and splinting.
Fracture of the Pelvis - ANSWERCaused by trauma, patient presents with back or
hip pain. Complications: hemorrhage, damage to pelvic and extra-pelvic organs.
Care: Tx discomfort, maintaining immobilization, and identify potential complications.
Fracture of the Shaft of the femur - ANSWEREdema, deformity, pain in the thigh,
inability to move hip or knee. Complications: hypovolemia, fat embolism, hip and/or
knee dislocation, muscle atrophy, ligament damage. Provide pain meds, provide
reassurance and decreasing anxiety, assist with exercises of the lower legs, feet,
and toes. Circulation and sensation in affected extremity;skeletal traction, internal or
external fixation
Intracapsular Fractures - ANSWERinvolve the head or neck of the femur...MOST
SERIOUS
Extracapsular Fractures - ANSWERInvolves the trochanteric region
Fracture of the Hip - ANSWERIntracapsular or extracapsular. Risks: Lower body
weakness, problems walking/balance, taking 4 or more meds or psychoacitve meds.
