NURS 307 (Pediatrics)
NeuroMascular STUDY GUIDE
ACCURATE AND VERIFIED (Best to
Pass Your Exam) WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY.
, WEEK 6
NEUROMUSCULAR
Fractures
− Types
o Complete: Bones break into separate segments
▪ Comminuted: Breaks into a lot of pieces, usually
due blunt force trauma
▪ Spiral: Break from twisting force to the bone,
usually due to abuse
▪ Transverse: Break straight across the bone
o Incomplete: Break that does NOT separate into segments
▪ Greenstick: Hairline- one side of the bone is broken,
usually results from minor trauma
o Epiphyseal injury
▪ Weakest point of long bone is the cartilage growth plate (Epiphyseal Plate)
▪ Frequent site of damage during trauma
▪ Can affect future bone growth
− Clinical Manifestations:
o Bruising
o Reduced movement
o Odd appearance
o Krepitus (Crepitus)
o Edema + erythema at site
o Neurovascular impairment
o Pain
− Nursing considerations
o RICE
▪ Do this prior to treatment in order to prevent compartment syndrome
▪ Rest: Don’t move the extremity
▪ Ice and immobilize: Decreases swelling
▪ Compression: stabilizes and doesn’t move or worsen the break
▪ Elevate above the level of the heart: reduces swelling and increases blood return to the
heart
o Neurovascular assessment
▪ Remember 5 P’s: Pain (unrelieved with
meds), Pulse, Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis
▪ Sensation: Assess for numbness or tingling
sensation of the extremity. Loss of sensation
can indicate nerve damage.
▪ Skin temperature: Assess the extremity for
temperature. It should be warm, not cool.
▪ Skin Color: Assess the color of the affected
extremity. Check distal to the injury and
look for changes in pigmentation.
▪ Capillary Refill: Press the nail beds of the
affected extremity until blanching occurs.
Blood return should be within 3 seconds.
▪ Pulses: Pulses should be palpable and strong. Pulses should also be equal to the pulses
of the unaffected extremity
NeuroMascular STUDY GUIDE
ACCURATE AND VERIFIED (Best to
Pass Your Exam) WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY.
, WEEK 6
NEUROMUSCULAR
Fractures
− Types
o Complete: Bones break into separate segments
▪ Comminuted: Breaks into a lot of pieces, usually
due blunt force trauma
▪ Spiral: Break from twisting force to the bone,
usually due to abuse
▪ Transverse: Break straight across the bone
o Incomplete: Break that does NOT separate into segments
▪ Greenstick: Hairline- one side of the bone is broken,
usually results from minor trauma
o Epiphyseal injury
▪ Weakest point of long bone is the cartilage growth plate (Epiphyseal Plate)
▪ Frequent site of damage during trauma
▪ Can affect future bone growth
− Clinical Manifestations:
o Bruising
o Reduced movement
o Odd appearance
o Krepitus (Crepitus)
o Edema + erythema at site
o Neurovascular impairment
o Pain
− Nursing considerations
o RICE
▪ Do this prior to treatment in order to prevent compartment syndrome
▪ Rest: Don’t move the extremity
▪ Ice and immobilize: Decreases swelling
▪ Compression: stabilizes and doesn’t move or worsen the break
▪ Elevate above the level of the heart: reduces swelling and increases blood return to the
heart
o Neurovascular assessment
▪ Remember 5 P’s: Pain (unrelieved with
meds), Pulse, Pallor, Paresthesia, Paralysis
▪ Sensation: Assess for numbness or tingling
sensation of the extremity. Loss of sensation
can indicate nerve damage.
▪ Skin temperature: Assess the extremity for
temperature. It should be warm, not cool.
▪ Skin Color: Assess the color of the affected
extremity. Check distal to the injury and
look for changes in pigmentation.
▪ Capillary Refill: Press the nail beds of the
affected extremity until blanching occurs.
Blood return should be within 3 seconds.
▪ Pulses: Pulses should be palpable and strong. Pulses should also be equal to the pulses
of the unaffected extremity
