PEDS: Chapter 51: Nursing Care of a Family when a Child has a Musculoskeletal Disorder PREP-U

The nurse is caring for a child with a possible diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. The nurse explains to the parents that which of the following will likely be used to confirm this child's diagnosis?

A muscle biopsy Explanation: A decrease in muscle fibers, which is seen in a muscle biopsy, can confirm the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy.

In understanding the development of the musculoskeletal system, the nurse recognizes that what is implanted in a gel-like substance during fetal life?

Cartilage Explanation: During fetal life, tissue called cartilage, which is a type of connective tissue consisting of cells implanted in a gel-like substance, gradually calcifies and becomes bone.

The nurse is caring for a 14-year-old boy in Buck traction for a slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). What information would the nurse include when completing a neurovascular assessment of the affected leg? Select all that apply.

Color Sensation Pulse Capillary refill Explanation: A neurovascular assessment includes assessing for color, movement, sensation, edema, and quality of pulses. Vital signs are not a component of a neurovascular assessment.

The nurse is speaking with the parents of a child who has a cast. The parents state that the child reports itching in the area of the cast. What is the best response by the nurse?

"Blowing cool air with a fan or hair dryer may relieve the feeling." Explanation: Itching is a common report, but just stating this does not address the entire situation. The suggestion of blowing cool air is the best answer. Clients should never put anything in a cast to scratch. Lotion may be applied to the skin above or below a cast but should never be poured into a cast.

A mother is angry about her son's diagnosis of osteosarcoma. She is telling him that if he had not played football last year and broken his leg, this would not have happened. What is the nurse's best response to the mother's statement?

"Playing sports does not cause osteosarcoma. It may draw attention to the weakened bone from the tumor, though." Explanation: Osteosarcoma does not result from bone injuries but may be diagnosed when there is a fracture secondary to bone weakening from the tumor. Playing sports has no effect on development of osteosarcoma.

The nurse is caring for a group of children on the pediatric unit. The nurse should collect further data and explore the possibility of child abuse in which situation?

A 7-year-old with a spiral fracture of the humerus, which the caregiver reports as having been caused when the child was hit by a bat swung by a Little League teammate. Explanation: Spiral fractures, which twist around the bone, are frequently associated with child abuse and are caused by a wrenching force. When a broken bone penetrates the skin, the fracture is called compound, or open. A simple, or closed, fracture is a single break in the bone without penetration of the skin. In a greenstick fracture, the bone bends and often just partially breaks.

Fracture of the femur typically occurs when a small child is lifted by one hand, as happens when a parent pulls on one arm to lift the child over a curb or up a step.

False Explanation: If a small child is lifted by one hand, as happens when a parent pulls on one arm to lift the child over a curb or up a step, the head of the radius may escape the ligament surrounding it and become dislocated (nursemaid's elbow). Fracture of the femur is rare and is typically caused by an automobile accident, a fall from a considerable height, or child maltreatment.

Which of the following would the nurse be least likely to assess in a 6-year-old with septic arthritis of the hip?

Full range of motion of the hip Explanation: The child with septic arthritis of the hip typically has limited range of motion, maintains the joint in flexion, and does not allow the leg to be straightened. Moderate to severe pain is usually noted and there is a history of a previous infection, such as a respiratory infection or otitis media.

The child diagnosed with muscular dystrophy uses a method of rising from the floor which is referred to as which of the following?

Gowers sign Explanation: The child cannot rise easily to an upright position from a sitting or squatting position on the floor; instead, he or she develops Gowers sign, a method where the child rises from the floor by "walking up" the lower extremities with the hands.

In understanding the physiology of the musculoskeletal system, the nurse recognizes that which of the following are stored in the bones?

Minerals Explanation: Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and fluoride are stored in the bones.

The nurse is doing neurovascular checks on a child who has had a cast applied to treat a fracture. The nurse observes for diminished or absent sensation and numbness or tingling. In doing this the nurse is monitoring for which symptom?

Paresthesia Explanation: Paresthesia is diminished or absent sensation or numbness or tingling. Pallor is paleness of color and paralysis is the loss of function.

A nurse is assessing a child with suspected osteomyelitis. Which finding would help support this suspicion?

Swelling and point tenderness Explanation: Findings associated with osteomyelitis include swelling, point tenderness, warmth over the site, decreased range of motion, and an elevated sedimentation rate.

An 8-year-old boy with a fractured forearm is to have a fiberglass cast applied. What information would the nurse include when teaching the child about the cast?

The child initially may experience a very warm feeling inside the cast. Explanation: A fiberglass cast usually takes only a few minutes to dry and will cause a very warm feeling inside the cast. Therefore, the nurse needs to warn the child that this will occur. Fiberglass casts usually have a soft fabric edge so they usually do not cause skin rubbing at the edges and don't require petaling. The child should be instructed to elevate his arm above the level of the heart for the first 48 hours.

The nurse is caring for a child with an external fixator in the right humerus. When evaluating the effectiveness of the fixator, which is an appropriate outcome? Select all answers that apply

The fixator lengthen bones. The fixator corrects angular or rotational defects, The fixator treats complex, unstable fractures. Explanation: An external fixator is used to treat complex, unstable fractures of both upper and lower extremities since it can hold the bone fragments much more rigidly than a cast. An external fixator may also be used to lengthen bones or correct angular or rotational defects. The purpose of serial manipulation is to restore joint alignment or to maintain functional mobility of a joint. The purpose of a splint or brace is to immobilize a body part or to provide support for weak limbs. Heat is generally used to cause vasodilation and relieve inflammation from muscle stiffness or spasm.

The nurse is caring for a child in a type of traction in which weights are being used. What is true regarding the weights?

The weights must be hanging freely, not touching the bed or floor. Explanation: When a child is in traction the weights must be hanging freely, not touching the bed or floor.

The nurse is caring for a child with osteomyelitis who has a leg wound. The highest priority nursing intervention for this child would be for the nurse to:

follow transmission-based precautions. Explanation: All of these interventions are done for the child with osteomyelitis who has a wound, but the highest priority would be to follow transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of infection, especially if the wound is open and draining.

The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and notes the presence of a Gower sign on the assessment form. What action by the child would support this assessment?

when on the floor, rising to the knees and pressing the hands against the ankles, knees, and thighs to stand Explanation: A Gower sign is when children "walk up their front." When on the floor, the only way they can stand is to roll on their stomach and push themselves up to their knees. They then press their hands against their ankles, knees, and thighs. The presence of a waddling gait, difficulty climbing stairs, and a short heel cord are all present in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but they are not the Gower sign. Meeting milestones late is also a symptom of this disorder, but it is not the Gower sign.

The nurse is caring for a child who is using crutches due to a leg injury. The child's parents state that child reports pain in the axilla when using the crutches. What is the best response by the nurse?

"We need to make sure the crutches are not too tall; there should be about an inch of space between the crutch pad and the axilla." Explanation: Axilla pain is a common report and should not be ignored or just medicated. Proper fitting crutches should have 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) between the crutch pad and the axilla. This should help to prevent axilla pain. When crutches fit properly, padding should not be needed on the crutch pad.

The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old boy with Russell traction applied to his left leg. Which intervention would be most appropriate to prevent complications?

Assess the popliteal region carefully for skin breakdown. Explanation: The nurse would assess the popliteal region carefully for skin breakdown from the sling. The nurse would adjust the weights only per physician orders. Cleaning and massaging the skin is unrelated to care of the child with Russell traction. Russell traction is a form of skin traction, so there is no pin care.

The nurse is observing a 3-year-old boy who is sitting and playing in the waiting area of his pediatrician's office. The nurse calls the boy and his mother back for the boy's appointment. The boy rolls onto his stomach and pushes himself to his knees. Then he presses his hands against his ankles, knees, and thighs, walking up the front of his body, to stand. Which condition should the nurse suspect in this client?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy Explanation: By age 3, children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy can rise from the floor only by rolling onto their stomachs and then pushing themselves to their knees. To stand, they press their hands against their ankles, knees, and thighs (they "walk up their front"); this is a Gower sign. Symptoms of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy begin after the child is 10 years old, and the primary symptom is facial weakness. The child becomes unable to wrinkle the forehead and cannot whistle. Congenital myotonic dystrophy begins in utero and typically leads to death before age 1 year because of inability to sustain respiratory function. The symptoms of juvenile arthritis are primarily stiff and painful joints.

An 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with a closed fracture of the radius at approximately 2 p.m. The fracture was reduced in the emergency department and her arm placed in a cast. At 11 p.m. her mother brings her back to the emergency department due to unrelenting pain that has not been relieved by the prescribed narcotics. Which action would be the priority?

Notifying the doctor immediately Explanation: The nurse should notify the doctor immediately because the girl's symptoms are the classic sign of compartment syndrome. Immediate treatment is required to prevent excessive swelling and to detect neurovascular compromise as quickly as possible. The ice should be removed and the arm brought below the level of the heart to facilitate whatever circulation is present. Giving additional pain medication will not help in this situation.

The nurse is working with an 6-year-old boy who recently was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The mother of the boy tells the nurse that she understands that exercise is important to help preserve muscle and joint function and asks the nurse for recommendations on types of exercise that would be appropriate. What exercise should the nurse recommend?

Swimming Explanation: Swimming and tricycle or bicycle riding are excellent exercises because they provide smooth joint action. In contrast, to reduce joint destruction, activities that place excessive strain on joints, such as running, jumping, prolonged walking, and kicking, should be avoided.

The nurse is caring for an 8-year-old girl in traction. She has been in an acute care setting for two weeks and will require an additional 10 days in the hospital. She is showing signs of regression with thumb sucking and pleas for her tattered baby blanket. What would be the most helpful intervention?

"Let's ask your mom to bring your friends for a visit." Explanation: After two weeks in traction, a child can become easily bored and regress in social and personal skills. A visit from friends arranged by the girl's mother or supervised by the child-life specialist would help her adapt to her immobilized state. Telling the girl she is too big to suck her thumb is unhelpful. Suggesting a book or coloring book would be unhelpful at this point, as she has likely grown tired of books and coloring after two weeks.

The caregiver of a 2-year-old who has a polyurethane resin cast on her arm calls the clinic to report that her child is crying and says that the cast has sand in it. The caregiver states that she has had casts herself and knows how badly they can itch. She says she always used a hanger to scratch but is worried that it will be too sharp for the child. Which statement would be appropriate for the nurse to make to this caregiver?

"Nothing should be put into the cast. You can blow cool air into it with a hair dryer." Explanation: Children and caregivers should be cautioned not to put anything inside the cast, no matter how much the casted area itches. Small toys and sticks or stick-like objects should be kept out of reach until the cast has been removed. Ice packs applied over the cast may help decrease the itching. Blowing cool air through a cast with a hair dryer set on a cool temperature or using a fan may help to relieve discomfort under a cast.

The nurse has been teaching the parents of a child diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta about the use of bisphosphonates for this condition. What statement by a parent indicates a need for further education?

"This medication will cure my child of this disorder." Explanation: Bisphosphonates are used in the palliative, not curative, treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta. The medication increases bone mineral density, therefore reducing the risk of the child developing fractures. The medication does not actually prevent fractures from happening.

The neonatal nurse caring for infants with musculoskeletal alterations knows that the following structural abnormalities are common in newborns, Which resolve on their own as the infant grows? Select all answers that apply

20° to 30° hip and knee contractures Inward rotation of the lower leg Metatarsus adductus (in-toeing or pigeon-toedness) C-shaped appearance of the spine Explanation: Normal newborns have 20° to 30° hip and knee contractures, which usually resolve by age 4 to 6 months. The infant frequently has inward rotation of the lower leg, creating a bowed appearance in which the feet may be turned slightly inward. Metatarsus adductus (in-toeing or "pigeon-toedness") is a common finding in infants and toddlers. At birth, the child's spine has a C-shaped appearance that undergoes changes as the child grows. Developmental dysplasia of the hip and brachial plexus injury are not normal findings and must be treated to correct the malformation.

When teaching a group of parents about the skeletal development in children, what information is most helpful?

A young child's bones commonly bend instead of break with an injury. Explanation: A young child's bones are more flexible and more porous with a lower mineral count than adults. Thus, bones will often bend rather than break when an injury occurs. The growth plate is composed of the epiphysis and physis. The infant's skeleton is not fully ossified at birth. Children's bones have a thick periosteum and an abundant blood supply.

A nurse is performing a physical examination of a child with a suspected fracture. Which assessment technique would the nurse assume would not be used?

Auscultation Explanation: The physical examination specific to fractures includes inspection, observation, and palpation. The nurse may assume that auscultation is not used; however, auscultation of the child's lungs may reveal adventitious sounds that are often present when respiratory muscle function is impaired.

A nurse is preparing a presentation for a parent group about musculoskeletal injuries. When describing a child's risk for this type of injury, the nurse integrates knowledge that bone growth occurs primarily in which area?

Epiphysis Explanation: Growth of the bones occurs primarily in the epiphyseal region. This area is vulnerable and structurally weak. Traumatic force applied to the epiphysis during injury may result in fracture in that area of the bone. The growth plate refers to the combination of the epiphysis, the end of a long bone, and the physis, a cartilaginous area between the epiphysis and the metaphysis.

The caregivers of an 8-year-old child diagnosed with muscular dystrophy are discussing appropriate activities for their child. The nurse might suggest to these caregivers that they take which action in regard to their child's activities?

Find a Little League team that encourages participation of kids at all disability levels. Explanation: The child must be encouraged to be as active as possible to delay muscle atrophy and contractures. To help keep the child active, physiotherapy, diet to avoid obesity, and parental encouragement are important. The nurse should advise the family to keep the child's life as normal as possible.

The student nurse is developing a care plan for a child who suffered a fractured tibia and will have a cast on his lower leg for approximately 6 weeks. Which nursing diagnosis would be the priority for this client?

Impaired physical mobility related to a cast on the leg Explanation: Impaired physical mobility would be the priority need for this client. Basic comfort, food, fluid, and other basic needs are considered a higher priority than diversional activities and self-esteem. Pain would be the normally be the highest priority in this list, but this client would have acute inflammation rather than chronic inflammation.

The nurse is caring for a child admitted with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Which of the clinical manifestation would likely have been noted in the child with this diagnosis?

Inflammation of the joints Explanation: In the child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, joint inflammation occurs first; if untreated, inflammation leads to irreversible changes in joint cartilage, ligaments, and menisci (the crescent-shaped fibrocartilage in the knee joints), eventually causing complete immobility.

Which nursing intervention is the priority for the immobilized child in an acute care setting?

Offer age-appropriate toys and diversional activities. Explanation: The immobilized child should be offered age-appropriate toys and diversional activities to stimulate the mind. An immobilized child is not able to walk or be taken to the playroom; they are bedfast. Passive and active range of motion exercises should be performed at least 3 to 4 times a day, not just once daily

The school nurse is presenting a class to a group of students about common overuse disorders. Which disorder would the school nurse include?

Osgood-Schlatter disease Explanation: Overuse syndromes refer to a group of disorders that result from repeated force applied to normal tissue. An example is Osgood-Schlatter disease. Dislocated radial head, transient synovitis of the hip, and scoliosis are not considered overuse syndromes.

The nurse is caring for a 10-year-old in traction. While performing a skin assessment, the nurse notices that the skin over the calcaneus appears slightly red and irritated. Which action would the nurse take first?

Reposition the child's foot on a pressure-reducing device. Explanation: The nurse's first action is to remove continuous pressure from this area. The other actions can help decrease the potential for skin breakdown, but the pressure must be relieved first.

A group of nursing students are reviewing information about types of skin traction and skeletal traction. The students demonstrate understanding of this information when they identify which of these as a type of skeletal traction?

Side arm 90-90 traction Explanation: Side arm 90-90 traction is a type of skeletal traction with force applied through a pin in the distal femur. Russell traction, Bryant traction, and Buck traction are types of skin traction.

The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. What is the most important nursing intervention for the nurse to include in working with this child and his caregivers?

The nurse should help the caregivers to understand and help the child to effectively use the corrective devices. Explanation: Nursing care focuses on helping the child and caregivers to manage the corrective device and on the importance of compliance to promote healing and to avoid long-term disability.

A 14-year-old male is brought to the ER by his parents with a suspected fracture of the arm sustained while playing soccer. An x-ray shows a comminuted fracture. Which of the following best describes this type of fracture?

There are three or more fracture fragments. Explanation: In a comminuted fracture there are three or more fracture fragments. With a transverse fracture, a line crosses the shaft at a 90º angle. In an oblique fracture, there is a diagonal line across the bone. With a greenstick fracture, the bone is bent, but not broken.

Which client would be the most likely person to be diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis that requires treatment?

a young adolescent female Explanation: Mild scoliosis occurs between the genders equally, but idiopathic scoliosis requiring treatment occurs 10 times more often in females than males. Usually, treatment is initiated during early adolescence, around age 11 to 14 years.

A type of traction sometimes used in the treatment of the child with scoliosis is called:

halo traction. Explanation: When a child has a severe spinal curvature or cervical instability, a form of traction known as halo traction may be used to reduce spinal curves and straighten the spine. Halo traction is achieved by using stainless steel pins inserted into the skull while counter-traction is applied by using pins inserted into the femur. Weights are increased gradually to promote correction.

The nurse is caring for a 2-year-old girl in a bilateral brace with tibia vara. Her parents are upset by their toddler's limited mobility. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

"You are doing a great job. Let's put our heads together on how to keep her busy." Explanation: The nurse should support the parents by encouraging and praising their compliance with bracing. It is also important to work with the parents to help develop age-appropriate diversions to promote normal growth and development. Telling the parents that they must be compliant or their daughter could develop severe bowing does not teach, does not offer solutions, and does not address the parents' concerns. Telling the parents that they must simply accept this and that the treatment could take years is likely to upset them and does not teach. It also does not address their concerns.

A child and mother come into the orthopedic clinic. The mother is concerned about her child who has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis. The mother asks about surgical treatment and if it will be necessary. The nurse bases her response on knowledge that surgery is implicated for curvatures greater than:

40 degrees. Explanation: Nonsurgical treatment is attempted first for spinal curvatures less than 40 degrees.

The nurse is observing a child walk down stairs using a swing-through gait. What action by the child would indicate a need for intervention by the nurse?

"The child places the crutches on the lower step before placing the good foot down." Explanation: To walk downstairs using a swing-through gait, the child places the crutches on the lower step, and then the good foot is placed on the step between the crutches. Both crutches should be moved at the same time. The good foot should not be placed on a lower step than the crutches when going down stairs.

An infant was born with a severely deformed hand. He is now 6 months old. The nurse informs the parents that the orthopedic surgeon has recommended amputation of the hand and fitting of a prosthesis. The mother objects and tells the nurse that they would like to wait and see how the hand develops. Which of the following should the nurse say in response?

"With a deformity such as this, the hand is highly unlikely to improve." Explanation: Depending on the condition, in many children, there is a potential for better function if the malformed portion of an extremity is amputated before a prosthesis is fitted. This creates a difficult decision for parents because it is one they cannot undo later. They need assurance hands with malformed fingers, for example, will not later grow to become normal and a well-fitted prosthesis will allow their child a more usual childhood and adult life than if the original disorder was left unchanged. It is not the nurse's place to insert her opinion about the matter.

A 3-year-old demonstrates lateral bowing of the tibia. Which signs would indicate that the boy's condition is Blount disease rather than the more typical developmental genu varum?

A sharp, beaklike appearance to the medial aspect of the proximal tibia on x-ray Explanation: Blount disease is retardation of growth of the epiphyseal line on the medial side of the proximal tibia (inside of the knee) that results in bowed legs. Unlike the normal developmental aspect of genu varum, Blount disease is usually unilateral and is a serious disturbance in bone growth that requires treatment. In those with Blount disease, the medial aspect of the proximal tibia will show a sharp, beaklike appearance. The other answers all describe genu varum, not Blount disease.

The nurse is caring for a child who fractured his arm in an accident. A cast has been applied to the child's right arm. Which actions should the nurse implement? Select all that apply.

Document any signs of pain. Check radial pulse in the both arms. Monitor the color of the nail beds in the right hand. Explanation: Monitoring for signs of pain, decreased circulation, or change or variation in pulses in the extremity is important for the child in a cast. Pain can indicate serious complications, such as compartment syndrome. Wearing a gown or sterile gloves is unnecessary. Checking posterior pulses would be appropriate when a lower extremity is casted.

A nurse assesses a client who is complaining of calf pain, has a temperature of 101°F (38.3°C) and reports that his leg is very sore. X-rays do not reveal any abnormalities but the client's white count is 21,000 cells and his erythrocyte sedimentation rate is elevated. What problem do these symptoms suggest?

Osteomyelitis Explanation: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, which causes leg pain and fever. Labwork reflects an elevated leukocyte count and an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. X-rays look normal until 5 to 10 days after onset of symptoms.

The school nurse is doing a presentation to a group of caregivers of children diagnosed with scoliosis. One of the caregivers asks the nurse about structural scoliosis. Which condition is involved with the diagnosis of structural scoliosis?

Rotated and malformed vertebrae Explanation: Structural scoliosis involves rotated and malformed vertebrae. Functional scoliosis can have several causes: poor posture, muscle spasm caused by trauma, or unequal length of legs.

The nurse is discussing types of treatment used when working with children who have orthopedic disorders. Which form of treatment covers the lower part of the body, usually from the waist down, and either one or both legs while leaving the feet open?

Spica cast Explanation: The hip spica cast covers the lower part of the body, usually from the waist down, and either one or both legs while leaving the feet open. The cast maintains the legs in a frog-like position. Usually, there is a bar placed between the legs to help support the cast.

A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a child who has sustained a fracture. Documentation reveals a bowing deformity. The nurse interprets this fracture as:

significant bending without actual breaking. Explanation: A plastic or bowing deformity is one in which there is significant bending of the bone without breaking. A buckle fracture is one in which the bone buckles rather than breaks. This is usually due to a compression injury. An incomplete fracture of the bone is a greenstick fracture. A complete fracture is one in which the bone breaks into two pieces.

The charge nurse is observing a student nurse perform skeletal traction pin care. What action by the student nurse would indicate a need for intervention by the charge nurse?

unhooking a weight while providing pin care Explanation: Weights should never be moved or unhooked during skeletal traction. Pin care is a sterile procedure. Pins are cleaned with half-strength hydrogen peroxide and then typically covered with sterile cotton gauze.

A child is admitted to the pediatric unit with osteomyelitis. The child is to be placed on antibiotics. The nurse expects antibiotic coverage to include which of the following as the most common cause of osteomyelitis?

Staphylococcus aureus Explanation: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of osteomyelitis; therefore, the nurse would expect the antibiotics to cover that bacteria.

The nurse is caring for a child diagnosed 3 months ago with juvenile idieopathic arthritis (JIA). The caregiver states that the child has recently reported little pain and is not currently taking aspirin or NSAIDs. The caregiver also tells the nurse that just to be on the safe side, she is continuing to keep the child from doing physical exercise. The mother states, "I think we have beaten this disease." In working with this child and the caregiver, which statement would be best for the nurse to make?

"Let's review some of the instructions. She does need to take an anti-inflammatory every day." Explanation: Teach family caregivers the importance of regular administration of the medications, even when the child is not experiencing pain. The primary purpose of aspirin or NSAIDs is not to relieve pain but to decrease joint inflammation.

The nurse is working with a group of caregivers of school-aged children discussing fractures. The nurse explains that if the fragments of fractured bone are separated, the fracture is said to be:

Complete Explanation: If the fragments of fractured bone are separated, the fracture is said to be complete. If fragments remain partially joined, the fracture is termed incomplete. Greenstick fractures are one kind of incomplete fracture, caused by incomplete ossification, common in children. Spiral fractures twist around the bone.

The nurse is talking with the caregiver of a 13-year-old diagnosed with scoliosis. The child has come to the clinic to be fitted with a brace to begin her treatment. The child appears upset and angry and states, "I hate this brace; I hate it already." In an effort to support this child, which statement would be the most appropriate for the nurse to make to this child's caregiver?

"If you can afford it, let your daughter choose an article or two of clothing that she can wear with the brace that will help her feel that she looks good." Explanation: Help the child select clothing that blends with current styles but is loose enough to hide the brace. Self-image and the need to be like others are very important at this age. Wearing a brace creates a distinct change in body image, especially in the older child or adolescent, at a time when body consciousness is at an all-time high. The need to wear the brace and deal with the limitations it involves may cause anger; the change in body image can cause a grief reaction. Handling these feelings successfully requires understanding support from the nurse, family, and peers. It is important for the child to have an opportunity to talk about his or her feelings

The nurse is speaking with a parent of a child diagnosed with scoliosis. The parent states, "I hate to think about my child having to wear a huge brace to treat this disorder. My best friend growing up had to wear one and she hated it." What is the best response by the nurse?

"The newer type of braces fit under the arms and are made to fit under clothing. They aren't nearly as big as they used to be." Explanation: Bracing is the primary treatment for scoliosis. The braces used today are designed by computer-aided techniques and fit under the arms rather than extending to the neck. Braces must be worn 23 hours a day. Surgical intervention is only performed in severe cases.

Maria is a 9-month-old whose babysitter brings her to the ER. An x-ray shows a spiral fracture of the femur. The babysitter tells the nurse that she found the infant in this condition when she showed up to watch her an hour ago. How should the nurse respond to this situation?

Arrange for the parents to come in for an evaluation for possible physical abuse. Explanation: Any type of fracture can be the result of child abuse, but spiral femur fractures, rib fractures, and humerus fractures, particularly in the child younger than 2 years of age, should always be thoroughly investigated to rule out the possibility of abuse. The parents should be contacted first, and the family should undergo an evaluation for possible physical abuse since femoral fractures in nonambulating infants, particularly spiral fractures, are believed to be highly specific for inflicted injury. If physical abuse is not found, the infant should be evaluated for an underlying musculoskeletal disorder and not a seizure disorder.

A 12-year-old female client has been diagnosed with scoliosis with a curvature of 30 degrees. What type of treatment would the nurse anticipate being started on this client?

Bracing Explanation: For spinal curvatures of 25 to 40 degrees, the usual treatment is bracing. Curvatures greater than 40 degrees may be treated with traction or spinal instrumentation and fusion. Exercise may be implemented for very mild curvatures to strengthen the back muscles.

The nurse is assessing a child and notes S-shaped curvature of the spine. What terminology would the nurse use when documenting this assessment finding?

idiopathic scoliosis Explanation: Idiopathic scoliosis is an S-shaped curvature of the spine. Kyphosis is an outward curvature of the cervical spine. Lordosis is an inward curving of the lumbar spine. Sway back is another term used for lordosis.

An adolescent client who has scoliosis and is wearing a Milwaukee brace tells the nurse that she is ugly and cannot wear the same clothing as her friends. Which response by the nurse best addresses this client's altered self-image?

"Let's look at some clothing that you can wear with the brace that will look like everyone else's clothes but cover it." Explanation: A positive self-image is very important for adolescents wearing a brace. They want to look like their peers and wear the same clothing, but often that is not possible when wearing a brace. Assisting the adolescent in selecting clothing that looks stylish but still hides the brace is one of the best ways to help this client. Telling her she looks fine, to be confident, or bringing up the times she has been embarrassed does not help the client.