NURS 125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Pallor, Osteoporosis, Palpation
26 Mar 2019
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Mechanism of injury velocity (high or low) direction of force (front, rear, side etc. ) impact (blunt or sharp) Dislocations - occurs when bones in a joint are forced apart intensely painful (more so than fractures) Circulation - assess swelling, pulses, skin color, capillary refill and skin temperature distal to. Movement/motor function - assess motor function distal to injury. Sensation/sensory function - assess for numbness, tingling etc. distal to injury. Pain - the most important indicator of neurovascular compromise is pain disproportionate to the injury. Caused by increased pressure (internal or external) in an anatomical compartment. Increased pressure leads to anoxia and necrosis. P ermanent damage to the leg occurs if anoxia continues for longer than 6 hours. Limb appears swollen, tight, pale and shiny. Paresthesia (numbness and tingling) can precede paralysis. Dinner fork deformity - indicative of a fractured radius. Personal history such as traumas or surgeries. Physical exercise involving light weight lifting (shown to decrease risk of osteoporosis)
