Musculoskeletal Practice Problems

A patient with a fractured right hip has an open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture with compression screw and plate. Postoperatively the nurse plans to a. get the patient up in the chair the first postoperative day. b. position the patient only on the back and unoperative side. c. keep leg abductor splints on the patient except when bathing. d. ambulate the patient with partial weight bearing by discharge.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Because the fracture site is internally fixed with pins or plates, the fracture site is stable, and the patient is moved from the bed to the chair on the first postoperative day, with ambulation beginning on the first or second postoperative day, without weight bearing on the affected leg. Weight bearing on the affected extremity is usually restricted for 6 to 12 weeks until adequate healing is evident on x-ray. The patient may be positioned on the operative side following internal fixation, and abductor pillows are used for patients who have femoral head prosthesis or total hip replacements.

On the first postoperative day, a patient with a below-the-knee amputation complains of pain in the amputated limb. An appropriate action by the nurse is to a. administer prescribed opioids to relieve the pain. b. explain the reasons for phantom limb pain. c. loosen the compression bandage to decrease incisional pressure. d. remind the patient that this phantom pain will diminish over time.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Phantom limb pain is treated like any other type of postoperative pain would be treated. Explanations of the reason for the pain may be given, but the nurse should still medicate the patient. The compression bandage is left in place except during physical therapy or bathing. Although the pain may decrease over time, it still requires treatment now.

A patient who has severe peripheral arterial disease and ischemic foot ulcers is upset with the health care provider's recommendation to have an above-the-knee amputation. The patient tells the nurse, "If they want to cut off my leg, they should just shoot me instead." The most appropriate response to the patient's statement is, a. "Let's talk about how you feel this surgery will affect you." b. "If you do not want the surgery, you do not have to have it." c. "I understand why you are upset, but there really is no choice because your leg is so badly diseased." d. "Many people are able to function normally with a prosthesis after amputation, and you can too."

Correct Answer: A Rationale: The initial nursing action should be to assess how the patient feels about the amputation and what the patient knows about the procedure and rehabilitation process. Discussion about the patient's option to not have the procedure, the reason the procedure is needed, or rehabilitation after the procedure may be appropriate after the nurse knows more about the patient's current level of knowledge and emotional state.

A 22-year-old patient started an exercise regimen 2 months ago that includes running 3 to 4 miles a day. The patient tells the nurse, "I enjoy my daily runs, but now I have shin splints." Which response by the nurse is appropriate? a. "You may be increasing your running time too quickly and need to cut back a little bit." b. "You need to have x-rays of your lower legs to be sure you do not have stress fractures." c. "You should expect some leg pain while running." d. "You should try speed-walking rather than running."

Correct Answer: A Rationale: The patient's information about running 3 to 4 miles daily after starting an exercise program only 2 months previously suggests that the shin splints are caused by overuse. Radiographs are not indicated for the type of injury described by the patient. Shin splints are not a normal or expected response to running. Because the patient expresses enjoyment of running, it would not be appropriate for the nurse to suggest a different sport.

A patient is seen at the urgent care center after falling on the right arm and shoulder. It will be most important for the nurse to determine a. whether there is bruising at the shoulder area. b. whether the right arm is shorter than the left. c. the amount of pain the patient is experiencing. d. how much range of motion (ROM) is present.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: A shorter limb after a fall indicates a possible dislocation, which is an orthopedic emergency. The nurse will expect bruising and pain at the area, even without an injury that requires surgery. The shoulder should be immobilized until it is evaluated by the health care provider.

Following a knee arthroplasty, a patient has a *continuous passive-motion machine* for the affected joint. The nurse explains to the patient that this device is used to a. relieve edema and pain at the incision site. b. promote early joint mobility and increase knee flexion. c. prevent venous stasis and the formation of a deep venous thrombosis. d. improve arterial circulation to the affected extremity to promote healing.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Continuous passive motion machines are frequently used following knee surgery to promote earlier joint mobility. Because joint dislocation is not a problem with knee replacements, early exercise with straight leg raises and gentle ROM is also encouraged postoperatively.

When positioning the patient with a total hip arthroplasty, it is important that the nurse maintain the affected extremity in a. adduction and flexion. b. extension and abduction. c. abduction and internal rotation. d. adduction and external rotation.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Following a total hip arthroplasty, extremes of internal rotation, adduction, and 90-degree flexion of the hip must be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis. During hospitalization an abduction pillow is placed between the legs to maintain abduction, and the leg is extended.

A patient arrives in the emergency department with ankle swelling and severe pain after twisting the ankle playing soccer. All of the following orders are written by the health care provider. Which one will the nurse act on first? a. Administer naproxen (Naprosyn) 500 mg PO. b. Wrap the ankle and apply an ice pack. c. Give acetaminophen with codeine (Tylenol #3). d. Take the patient to the radiology department for x-rays.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Immediate care after a sprain or strain injury includes the application of cold and compression to the injury to minimize swelling. The other actions should be taken after the ankle is wrapped with a compression bandage and ice is applied.

When giving home-care instructions to a patient who has multiple forearm fractures and a long-arm cast on the right arm, which information should the nurse include? a. Keep the hand immobile to prevent soft tissue swelling. b. Call the health care provider for increased swelling or numbness. c. Keep the right shoulder elevated on a pillow or cushion. d. Avoid the use of NSAIDs for the first 48 hours after the injury.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Increased swelling or numbness may indicate increased pressure at the injury, and the health care provider should be notified immediately to avoid damage to nerves and other tissues. The patient should be encouraged to move the joints above and below the cast to avoid stiffness. There is no need to elevate the shoulder, although the forearm should be elevated to reduce swelling. NSAIDs are appropriate to treat pain after a fracture.

Following instruction for a patient with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the nurse determines that teaching about the disease has been effective when the patient says, a. "I should expect to have a low fever all the time with this disease." b. "I need to restrict my exposure to sunlight to prevent an acute onset of symptoms." c. "I should try to ignore my symptoms as much as possible and have a positive outlook." d. "I can expect a temporary improvement in my symptoms if I become pregnant."

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Sun exposure is associated with SLE exacerbation, and patients should use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and stay out of the sun between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Low-grade fever may occur with an exacerbation but should not be expected all the time. A positive attitude may decrease the incidence of SLE exacerbations, but patients are taught to self-monitor for symptoms that might indicate changes in the disease process. Symptoms may worsen during pregnancy and especially during the postpartum period.

A patient with polyarthralgia with joint swelling and pain is being evaluated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The nurse knows that the serum test result that is the most specific for SLE is the presence of a. rheumatoid factor. b. anti-Smith antibody (Anti-Sm). c. antinuclear antibody (ANA). d. lupus erythematosus (LE) cell prep.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: The anti-Sm is antibody found almost exclusively in SLE. The other blood tests are also used in screening but are not as specific to SLE.

A patient hospitalized with multiple fractures has a long-arm plaster cast applied for immobilization of a fractured left radius. Until the cast has completely dried, the nurse should a. Keep the left arm in a dependent position. b. Handle the cast with the palms of the hands. c. Place gauze around the cast edge to pad any roughness. d. Cover the cast with a small blanket to absorb the dampness.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: Until a plaster cast has dried, placing pressure on the cast should be avoided to prevent creating areas inside the cast that could place pressure on the arm. The left arm should be elevated to prevent swelling. The edges of the cast may be petaled once the cast is dry, but padding the edges before that may cause the cast to be misshapen. The cast should not be covered until it is dry because heat builds up during drying.

A patient with an extracapsular hip fracture is admitted to the orthopedic unit and placed in Buck's traction. The nurse explains to the patient that the purpose of the traction is to a. pull bone fragments back into alignment. b. immobilize the leg until healing is complete. c. reduce pain and muscle spasms before surgery. d. prevent damage to the blood vessels at the fracture site.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Although surgical repair is the preferred method of managing intracapsular and extracapsular hip fractures, initially patients frequently may be treated with skin traction, such as Buck's extension or Russell's traction, to immobilize the limb temporarily and to relieve the painful muscle spasms before surgery is performed. Prolonged traction would be required to reduce the fracture or immobilize it for healing, creating a very high risk for complications of immobility.

Following x-rays of an injured wrist, the patient is informed that it is badly sprained. In teaching the patient to care for the injury, the nurse tells the patient to a. apply a heating pad to reduce muscle spasms. b. wear an elastic compression bandage continuously. c. use pillows to keep the arm elevated above the heart. d. gently exercise the joint to prevent muscle shortening.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Elevation of the arm will reduce the amount of swelling and pain. For the first 24 to 48 hours, cold packs are used to reduce swelling. Compression bandages are not left on continuously. The wrist should be rested and kept immobile to prevent further swelling or injury.

After falling at home, a patient is admitted to the emergency department, where x-rays confirm the presence of an *extracapsular fracture* of the femur. When assessing the patient, the nurse would expect to find a. bruising of the left hip and thigh. b. numbness in the left leg and hip. c. outward pointing toes on the left leg. d. weak or nonpalpable left leg pulses.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: External rotation of the leg is a classic sign associated with a hip fracture. Bruising does not always appear rapidly, and bruising extending to the thigh might indicate hemorrhage. Numbness and decreased pulses are not typical of a hip fracture unless there is associated tissue swelling and trauma to blood vessels.

A patient with an acute exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is hospitalized with incapacitating fatigue, acute hand and wrist pain, and proteinuria. The health care provider prescribes prednisone (Deltasone) 40 mg twice daily. Which nursing action should be included in the plan of care? a. Institute seizure precautions. b. Reorient to time and place PRN. c. Monitor intake and output. d. Place on cardiac monitor.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Lupus nephritis is a common complication of SLE, and when the patient is taking corticosteroids, it is especially important to monitor renal function. There is no indication that the patient is experiencing any nervous system or cardiac problems with the SLE.

The nurse provides discharge instructions to a patient with an above-the-knee amputation who will be fitted with a prosthesis when healing is complete and the residual limb is well molded. The nurse determines that teaching has been effective when the patient says, a. "I should change the limb sock when it becomes soiled or stretched out." b. "I should use lotion on the stump to prevent drying and cracking of the skin." c. "I should elevate my residual limb on a pillow 2 or 3 times a day." d. "I should lay on my abdomen for 30 minutes 3 or 4 times a day."

Correct Answer: D Rationale: The patient lies in the prone position several times daily to prevent flexion contractures of the hip. The limp sock should be changed daily. Lotion should not be used on the stump. The residual limb should not be elevated because this would encourage flexion contracture.

A 26-year-old woman has been diagnosed with early systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) involving her joints. In teaching the patient about the disease, the nurse includes the information that SLE is a(n) a. hereditary disorder of women but usually does not show clinical symptoms unless a woman becomes pregnant. b. autoimmune disease of women in which antibodies are formed that destroy all nucleated cells in the body. c. disorder of immune function, but it is extremely variable in its course, and there is no way to predict its progression. d. disease that causes production of antibodies that bind with cellular estrogen receptors, causing an inflammatory response.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: SLE has an unpredictable course, even with appropriate treatment. Women are more at risk for SLE, but it is not confined exclusively to women. Clinical symptoms may worsen during pregnancy but are not confined to pregnancy or the perinatal period. All nucleated cells are not destroyed by the antinuclear antibodies. The inflammation in SLE is not caused by antibody binding to cellular estrogen receptors.

A patient who has a proximal humerus fracture that is immobilized with a left-sided long-arm cast, and a sling is admitted to the medical-surgical unit. Which nursing intervention will be included in the plan of care? a. Use surgical net dressing to hang the arm from an IV pole. b. Immobilize the fingers on the left hand with gauze dressings. c. Assess the left axilla and change absorbent dressings as needed. d. Assist the patient in passive range of motion (ROM) for the right arm.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: The axilla can become excoriated when a sling is used to support the arm, and the nurse should check the axilla and apply absorbent dressings to prevent this. A patient with a sling would not have traction applied by hanging. The patient will be encouraged to move the fingers on the injured arm to maintain function and to help decrease swelling. The patient will do active ROM on the uninjured side.

A patient is admitted to the emergency department with possible fractures of the bones of the left lower extremity. The initial action by the nurse should be to a. Splint the lower leg. b. Elevate the left leg. c. Check the popliteal, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibia pulses. d. Obtain information about the patient's tetanus immunization status.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: The initial nursing action should be assessment of the neurovascular status of the injured leg. After assessment, the nurse may need to splint and elevate the leg, based on the assessment data. Information about tetanus immunizations should be done if there is an open wound.

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who has a facial rash and alopecia tells the nurse, "I hate the way I look! I never go anyplace except here to the health clinic." An appropriate nursing diagnosis for the patient is a. activity intolerance related to fatigue and inactivity. b. impaired skin integrity related to itching and skin sloughing. c. social isolation related to embarrassment about the effects of SLE. d. impaired social interaction related to lack of social skills.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: The patient's statement about not going anyplace because of hating the way he or she looks supports the diagnosis of social isolation because of embarrassment about the effects of the SLE. Activity intolerance is a possible problem for patients with SLE, but the information about this patient does not support this as a diagnosis. The rash with SLE is nonpruritic. There is no evidence of lack of social skills for this patient.

When counseling an older patient about ways to prevent fractures, which information will the nurse include? a. Tacking down scatter rugs in the home is recommended. b. Occasional weight-bearing exercise will improve muscle and bone strength. c. Most falls happen outside the home. d. Buying shoes that provide good support and are comfortable to wear is recommended.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: Comfortable shoes with good support will help to decrease the risk for falls. Scatter rugs should be eliminated, not just tacked down. Regular weight-bearing exercise will improve strength, but occasional exercise is not helpful in improving strength. Falls inside the home are responsible for many injuries.

Discharge instructions for the patient following a hip fracture with femoral head prosthesis include a. restricting walking for 2 to 3 months. b. taking a bath rather than a shower to prevent falling. c. keeping the leg internally rotated while sitting and standing. d. having a family member put on the patient's shoes and socks.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: Patients with hip prostheses or a total hip arthroplasty must avoid extreme flexion, adduction, or internal rotation for at least 6 weeks to prevent dislocation of the prosthesis. Gradual weight bearing on the limb is allowed, and ambulation should be encouraged.

A 65-year-old patient has undergone a right total hip arthroplasty with a cemented prosthesis for treatment of severe osteoarthritis of the hip. Patient activity that the nurse anticipates on the patient's first or second postoperative day includes a. transfer from bed to chair twice a day only. b. turning from the back to the unaffected side q2hr only. c. crutch walking with non-weight bearing on the operative leg. d. ambulation and weight bearing on the right leg with a walker.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: Physical therapy is initiated 1 day postoperatively with ambulation and weight bearing using a walker for a patient with a cemented prosthesis and non-weight bearing on the operative side for an uncemented prosthesis. In addition, the patient is turned to both sides and back with support of the operative leg and sits in the chair at least twice a day

An older adult woman is admitted to the emergency department after falling at home. The nurse cautions the patient not to put weight on the leg after finding a. inability to move the toes and ankle. b. edema of the thigh extending to the knee. c. internal rotation of the leg with groin pain. d. shortening and external rotation of the leg.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: The classic signs of a hip fracture are shortening of the leg and external rotation accompanied by severe pain at the fracture site, and additional injury could be caused by weight bearing on the extremity. The patient may not be able to move the hip or the knee, but movement in the ankle and toes is not affected.

Priority Decision: Following change-of-shift handoff, which patient should the nurse assess first? a. a 58-year-old male experiencing phantom pain and requesting analgesic b. a 72-year-old male being transferred to a skilled nursing unit following repair of a hip fracture c. a 25-year-old female in left leg skeletal traction asking for the weights to be lifted for a few minutes d. a 68-year-old male with a new lower leg cast complaining that the cast is too tight and he can't feel his toes

Correct Answer: D Rationale: The patient with a tight cast may be at risk for neurovascular compromise (impaired circulation and peripheral nerve damage) and should be assessed first. The other patients should be seen as soon as possible. Providing analgesia for the patient with phantom pain would be the next priority. The patient in skeletal traction needs explanation of the purpose and functioning of the traction. She may need analgesia or muscle relaxants to help tolerate the traction.

A patient with a fractured pelvis is initially treated with bed rest with no turning from side to side permitted. The second day after admission, the patient develops chest pain, tachypnea, and tachycardia. The nurse determines that the patient's symptoms are most likely related to fat embolism when assessment of the patient reveals a. a blood pressure of 100/65 mm Hg. b. anxiety, restlessness, and confusion. c. warm, reddened areas in the calf. d. pinpoint red areas on the upper chest.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: The presence of petechiae helps distinguish fat embolism from other problems. The other symptoms might occur with fat embolism but could also occur with other postoperative complications such as bleeding, myocardial infarction, venous thrombosis, or hypoxemia.