Chapter 25 ebook Flashcards
(22 cards)
Mechanical Immobilization
For clients who have suffered trauma to the musculoskeletal system
Heal less rapidly than injuries to the skin or soft tissue
Relieves pain and muscle spasms
restricts movement while injuries heal
supports and aligns skeletal injuries
Splints
device that immobilizes and protects an injured body part
Inflatable and traction splints- short term use
Immobilizers and molded splints- longer term use
Inflatable splint
become rigid when filled with air
controls bleeding and swelling
often used in emergency first aid
Traction splint
Immobilize and pull on contracted muscles
Not as easy to apply as inflatable splints
Ex: Thomas splint- requires specialized training
Immobilizers
commercial splints made from cloth and foam
held in place by adjustable hook and loop tape
limit motion in the area of a painful but healing injury
Molded splints
orthotic devices made of rigid materials and used for chronic injuries
Appropriate for clients with carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis
prevent contractures and muscle atrophy during immobility
Cervical collar
foam or rigid splint placed around the neck
treats neck injuries and neck sprains
measures neck circumference and between between the shoulder and neck for size
can wear for 10 days to 2 weeks
Slings
cloth device used to elevate, cradle and support parts of your body
Braces
custom made or custom fitted devices designed to support weaken structures
Prophylactic- prevents or reduces the severity of a joint injury
Functional- provide stability for an unstable joint
rehabilitative braces- allowed protected motion of an injured joint that has been treated operatively
Cylinder cast
Most common
encircles an arm or leg and leaves the toes or fingers exposed
prevents movement in the injured area
Body cast
larger form of a cylinder cast and encircles the trunk of the body
bivalved cast
cut into two pieces lengthwise from either a body or a cylinder cast
used:
swelling compresses tissue and interferes with circulation
being weaned from cast
sharper x ray image is needed
painful joints need to be immobilized temporarily for a client with arthritis
Spica cast
encircles one or both arms or legs and the chest or trunk
heavy, hot and fustrating because they severely restrict movement
upper body-shoulder spica
lower body-hip spica
Cast application
generally requires more than one person
A light cured fiberglass cast requires exposure to ultraviolet light to harden
Basic cast care
nurse is responsible for caring for client and making appropriate assessments to prevent complications
Nurses may use petals to reduce skin irritation from the rough edges of the cast
Cast removal
removed with electric saw cutter
muscles is usually smaller and weaker after removal
skin is pale, waxy, dead skin
apply lotion to skin
Traction
a pulling effect exerted on a part of the skeletal system
used to:
reduce muscle spasms
realign bones
relieve pain
prevent deformities
Manual traction
pulling on the body using a persons hands and muscular strength
most often used to realign a broken bone or dislocated bone
Skin traction
a pulling effect by applying devices to the skin
ex: pelvic belt, cervical halter, buck traction, russell traction
Skeletal traction
pull exerted directly on the skeletal system by attaching wires, pins or tongs into or through a bone
applied to the skull, humerus and femur
external fixator
a metal device inserted into and through one or more broken bones to stabilize fragments through healing
client is encouraged to be active and mobile
pin site
location where pins, wires, or tongs enter or exit the skin
pin site care is essential to prevent infection
