Beth Downing, MSN, RN-BC, ONC
Anna Gordon, MSN, RN


Utilize the nursing process to plan developmentally appropriate care for clients experiencing fractures.

Compare and contrast the nursing care, throughout the lifespan, of clients with fractures.






Connor a 22 month old male
According to his parents he was playing on a ride along toy & opened the gate &
“rode” down a flight of stairs injuring his right femur
Both parents were home at the time & “he was only unattended for a few seconds”
Lives with his parents and is an only child
No other injuries were noted

Given his age and type of injury what needs to be ruled out…
How should the nurse go about this?
What other assessment information would be important for the nurse to have?

•
Child abuse has been ruled out
•
No previous hospitalizations noted
•
No previous injuries or illnesses noted
•
No medications or allergies noted
•
Both parents are distraught that this was
“all our fault, how could we let this happen”






Immediately after he fell Connor’s parents believed he was injured and brought him to the ED where he is:
Crying, saying “ouch” pointing to his right leg
Not wanting anyone to touch right leg
Noticeably swollen on the right leg
Unable to stand or walk

What other assessment data should the nurse obtain?
What are applicable nursing diagnoses?
What’s a priority for Connor? His parents?


Dr. H has admitted Connor, after an x-ray confirmed a right femoral shaft fracture with 2.5 cm shortening. Parents have been informed he will be placed in
Bryant’s traction for 7-10 days and then re-evaluated to determine the best course of treatment.

Why is this treatment option best given the patient, his type and location of injury?
What does Bryant’s traction involve? Is it a skin or skeletal traction?
Discuss the differences between skin & skeletal traction.


Connor is placed in Bryant’s Traction

What are the priority assessments?
How is this traction managed?
What teaching needs to be done for Connor
& his parents?
How can Connor’s parents be involved in his care while he is hospitalized?

Connor has been in Bryant’s traction for 7 days and Dr. H is determining how the plan of care will continue…
Traction??
Casting??
Surgery??

Discuss the differences between these options – depending on type of fracture, location, age, etc.
What do you know about fractures in children…and the treatment?
How is the effectiveness of traction determined?

The traction has been effective and the right femur is realigned with < 2cm of shortening. Traction will be removed and it is time for a spica cast to be applied.
Connor’s parents were given information on possible treatments when he was admitted, but are requesting further information and clarification of the casting procedure.

How is the cast applied?
How long does it take?
What will it look like?
When will the cast be dry?

Connor had the spica cast applied this a.m.
He is currently lying in his crib with both parents sitting beside him. There are no signs of pain.

What are the priority nursing assessments?
Connor isn’t potty trained how will this affect his cast?
What teaching needs to be completed with
Connors parents in relation to cast care?
Nursing diagnoses… Which are priorities??


It is now time for Connor to be discharged home with his parents. He will remain in the spica cast for 6 weeks and then follow-up with the physician.

What discharge teaching needs to be included as to when to call the physician?
Potential complications?
What prior teaching needs reinforcement?


Anglen, J.O. & Choi, L. (2005). Treatment options in pediatric femoral shaft fractures. Journal of Orthopedic Trauma 19(10), 724-733.

Hart, E., Shannon, E., Albright, M., & Grottkau, B. (n.d.) Caring for the infant/child in a spica cast retrieved from http://www.orthonurse.org/portals/0/spica%20cast.pdf
on June 25,
2012.

Zimmer Orthopaedic Surgical Products, Inc. (2009). Zimmer Traction
Handbook retrieved from http://www.zimmer.com/web/enUS/pdf/200080500_Traction
Handbook.pdf
on June 24, 2012.

Mrs. Cabot is a 78-year-old (160 cm, 48.18 kg)
Caucasian female who was brought in to the
ED after walking out of her house down a single step, lost her balance, and fell. She lives at home with her husband, and 5 grown children live nearby. She presents with severe left hip and groin pain, and her left leg is slightly shortened. An xray in the
ER shows a left intracapsular femoral neck fracture. She is scheduled to undergo a left total hip replacement.

Given this information what risk factors does she have that could have lead to this fracture?

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Medical/Surgical
Type II diabetes mellitus
Coronary artery disease
Myocardial infarction
4 vessel coronary artery bypass graft
Atrial fibrillation
Congestive heart failure
Heartburn
Reflux
Hypertension
Laparoscopic
Cholecystectomy
Fractured radius as a child
Appendectomy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Home Medications
Coumadin 2 mg po daily
Zocor 40 mg po daily
Lasix 40 mg po daily
KCl 20 mEq po daily
Toprol XL 50 mg po BID
Cozaar 25 mg po daily
Amiodarone 200 mg po daily
Actos 30 mg daily
Glucophage 1000 mg daily with supper
Nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL prn chest pain
MVI daily
Calcium Carbonate 500 mg po BID
Tylenol 650 mg po prn pain
•
Allergies: Morphine, PCN

What are her risks for surgery based on this information?





WBC – 10.8 mm 3
Hgb – 11.2 g/dL
HcT – 36%
PLT – 200,000 mm 3






K – 4.1 mEq/L
Na – 139 mEq/L
Ca – 9.2 mg/dL
Cre – 1.02 mg/dL
BUN – 10 mg/dL
Glucose – 146 mg/dL

What additional labs based on history & medications should the nurse know for this patient?





PT – 16 sec
INR – 2.9
HgBA1C – 6.8%
BNP - 130

Based on all of the information what potential operative complications could
Mrs. Cabot face?

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2000 ADA Diet, NPO p MN
Consent for left total hip replacement
Orthopedic scrub to left hip
Vitamin K 5 mg subcutaneous now
NS @ 100 ml/hr
Foley
Morphine 2-4 mg IV q 1 hr prn pain
Zofran 4 mg IV q 6 hr prn N/V
Ancef 1 gm IV on-call to OR

Questions/Comments/Concerns about these orders?
What preoperative teaching needs to be completed?




Alert & oriented
Pain is 4/10
Assessment:
• VS – 97.2 – 82 – 18 – 112/72 – 98%, Lungs clear,
HR 82 irreg, hypoactive BS X 4, foley patent, straw clear urine, LH IVF @ 100, RH HL, O2 @ 2L
NC,

What is missing in your assessment?
Nursing diagnoses?
Goals for this patient?
Mobility teaching for this patient?

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
D5 ½ NS @ 100 ml/hr
Advance to regular diet
I&O q 8 h
PT/OT Consult – WBAT
AEH/SCDs bilaterally
IS Q1 while awake
O2 titrate to keep sats > 92%
Ancef 1 gm IV q 8 X 3 doses
Demerol 50-100 mg IV q 3 hr prn severe pain
Roxicodone 5-10 mg po q 4 hr prn pain
Zofran 4 mg IV q 6 hr prn N/V
Arixtra 2.5 mg subcutaneous daily begin in a.m.
Coumadin 5 mg po tonight

Questions/Comments/Concerns about these orders? What’s missing?
Postoperative teaching – to prevent complications…

Throughout the next 24 hrs Mrs. Cabot has increasing pain and begins to exhibit confusion; wanting to get out of bed. She reorients easily to person and place, however the time and situational confusion resumes. Mrs. Cabot frequently states,
“Why can’t I get up? I’m tired of lying in this bed, its been days.” You have reinforced that she just had surgery and will be getting up tomorrow. You call the NA and reposition her and then assist her to sit up on the side of the bed. Still she continues to want to get up.
You have reinforced the safety aspects of not getting out of bed at this time.

What is your priority concern?
What further assessments should be completed to determine the cause of the confusion?
SBAR the physician with the new onset confusion….
If this confusion continues how will it impact
Mrs. Cabot’s recovery?


Assessment Data















HgB – 8.4 g/dL
HcT – 26%
WBC – 9.7
PT – 12 sec
INR – 1.5
VS – 99.1-94-20-98/60-96%
Skin pale, warm
Lungs diminished
HR 94 irreg
+ BS x 4
+2 pedal pulses
Cap refill 2 sec
+1 edema bilateral LE
IVF infusing at 100 mL/hr
Urine clear, amber

Orders





Give 2 units PRBCs
H&H in a.m.
Drsg change daily
DC Foley when able to ambulate >10 ft
DC Arixtra when INR > 2

What does the nurse have to focus on during the assessment?
Potential complications?
Thinking about National Patient Safety Goal for
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections
(CAUTI) – Should the nurse discontinue the foley today? Why or why not?
What are appropriate nursing diagnoses?


Discharge Instructions
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Resume all home medications, including Tylenol for pain
Dry dressing change daily
Diabetic diet
Ok to shower
No driving
Ambulation with walker/cane
PT/OT/HH have been ordered

As part of the discharge process what additional information needs to be considered before sending Mrs. Cabot home?
What additional teaching or reinforcement should be included?
What about reinforcing education of falls prevention & safety in the home? http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/pubs.html


Smeltzer, S., Bare, B., Hinkle, J., Cheever, K. (2010). Brunner
and Suddarth’s Medical Surgical Nursing. 12 th ed. Lippincott,
Williams & Wilkins.