Wong : Musculoskeletal or Articular Dysfunction

The nurse is preparing an adolescent girl for an instrumentation procedure to treat scoliosis. Which of the following should the nurse include? a. Nasogastric intubation and urinary catheter may be required. b. Ambulation will not be allowed for up to 3 months. c. Surgery eliminates the need for casting and bracing. d. Discomfort can be controlled with nonpharmacologic methods.

ANS: A Harrington instrumentation is a surgical procedure. Nasogastric intubation and urinary catheterization may be required.

A child is upset because, when the cast is removed from her leg, the skin surface is caked with desquamated skin and sebaceous secretions. Which of the following should the nurse suggest to remove this material? a. Soak in a bathtub. b. Vigorously scrub leg. c. Apply powder to absorb material. d. Carefully pick material off leg.

ANS: A Simple soaking in the bathtub is usually sufficient for the removal of the desquamated skin and sebaceous secretions. It may take several days to eliminate the accumulation completely.

Which of the following is an advantage to using a fiberglass cast instead of a plaster of Paris cast? a. Cheaper b. Dries rapidly c. Molds closely to body parts d. Smooth exterior

ANS: B A synthetic casting material dries in 5 to 30 minutes as compared with a plaster cast, which takes 10 to 72 hours to dry.

When does idiopathic scoliosis become most noticeable? a. Newborn period b. When child starts to walk c. During preadolescent growth spurt d. Adolescence

ANS: C Idiopathic scoliosis is most noticeable during the preadolescent growth spurt.

The nurse is teaching a family how to care for their infant in a Pavlik harness to treat developmental dysplasia of the hip. Which of the following should be included? a. Apply lotion or powder to minimize skin irritation. b. Remove harness several times a day to prevent contractures. c. Return to clinic every 1 to 2 weeks. d. Place diaper over harness, preferably using a superabsorbent disposable diaper that is relatively thin.

ANS: C Infants have a rapid growth pattern. The child needs to be assessed by the practitioner every 1 to 2 weeks for possible adjustments.

A neonate is born with mild clubfeet. When the parents ask the nurse how this will be corrected, the nurse should explain that: a. traction is tried first. b. surgical intervention is needed. c. frequent, serial casting is tried first. d. children outgrow this condition when they learn to walk.

ANS: C Serial casting is begun shortly after birth before discharge from nursery. Successive casts allow for gradual stretching of skin and tight structures on the medial side of the foot. Manipulation and casting of the leg are repeated frequently (every week) to accommodate the rapid growth of early infancy.

Which of the following would cause a nurse to suspect that an infection has developed under a cast? a. Complaint of paresthesia b. Cold toes c. Increased respirations d. "Hot spots" felt on cast surface

ANS: D If hot spots are felt on the cast surface, they usually indicate infection beneath the area. This should be reported so that a window can be made in the cast to observe the site.

The nurse uses the palms of the hands when handling a wet cast for which of the following reasons? a. To assess dryness of the cast b. To facilitate easy turning c. To keep the patient's limb balanced d. To avoid indenting the cast

ANS: D Wet casts should be handled by the palms of the hands, not the fingers, to avoid creating pressure points.