Orthopedic Injuries and Perioperative Care

Blunt Tissue Injuries, Sprains, and Strains

• Aetiology: caused by direct blows or trauma, leading to damage to soft tissues, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Pathophysiology: involves inflammation, swelling, and pain due to bleeding and edema
• Clinical manifestations: pain, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility

Fractures

• Aetiology: caused by excessive force, twisting, or trauma, leading to bone breakage
• Pathophysiology: involves disruption of bone architecture, leading to bleeding, inflammation, and pain
• Clinical manifestations: pain, swelling, deformity, and limited mobility

Fracture Healing

• Process: inflammation, soft callus formation, hard callus formation, and bone remodeling
• Inflammation: initial response to injury, involving bleeding and swelling
• Soft callus formation: cartilaginous matrix forms at fracture site, providing some stability
• Hard callus formation: bony tissue forms, replacing cartilaginous matrix, providing greater stability
• Bone remodeling: final stage, where bone is reshaped and restored to its original form

Immobilization for Fracture Repair

• Forms: casts, splints, and internal fixation devices
• Comparing and contrasting:
  • Casts: provide external support and immobilization, limiting mobility
  • Splints: provide external support and immobilization, allowing for some mobility
  • Internal fixation devices: provide internal support and stabilization, allowing for early mobilization

Compartment Syndrome

• Definition: a condition where increased pressure in a muscle compartment leads to decreased blood flow and nerve function
• Causes: fracture, trauma, or surgery
• Clinical manifestations: pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness
• Nursing management:
  • Monitor for signs and symptoms
  • Maintain elevation and immobilization
  • Provide pain management
  • Monitor for complications

Perioperative Care

• Purpose of nursing assessment: to identify potential risks and complications
• Components of nursing assessment:
  • Preoperative: medical history, physical examination, and laboratory results
  • Intraoperative: monitoring of vital signs and anesthesia
  • Postoperative: monitoring of vital signs, pain, and wound healing
• Nursing process:
  • Assessment: identify potential risks and complications
  • Planning: develop a plan to prevent complications
  • Implementation: implement interventions to prevent complications
  • Evaluation: monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions