A client is getting out of bed into a chair for the first time after an uncemented total hip arthroplasty. What action by the nurse is appropriate?
Have adequate help to transfer the patient.
Provide socks so the patient can slide easier.
Tell the patient full weight bearing is allowed.
Use a footstool to elevate the patient’s leg.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Uncemented hip arthroplasty requires careful transfer to prevent dislocation of the new joint, which relies on bone ingrowth for stability. Adequate help (e.g., two staff members) ensures safe transfer, minimizing stress on the surgical site and reducing the risk of falls or prosthesis misalignment.
Choice B reason: Providing socks to “slide easier” increases the risk of slipping during transfer, which could lead to falls or hip dislocation. Non-slip footwear is preferred to ensure stability and safety during mobilization post-hip arthroplasty.
Choice C reason: Full weight bearing is typically restricted after uncemented hip arthroplasty to allow bone ingrowth into the prosthesis. Informing the patient that full weight bearing is allowed is incorrect and could lead to implant failure or dislocation.
Choice D reason: Using a footstool to elevate the leg during transfer is inappropriate, as it may cause hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, increasing the risk of dislocation. Elevation is used in specific positions but not during initial transfers.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Positioning with hips flexed at 90 degrees is inappropriate for Buck’s traction, which is a skin traction applied to the lower leg to align fractures. Excessive hip flexion can disrupt traction alignment and increase discomfort or complications.
Choice B reason: Weights in Buck’s traction must hang freely to maintain constant force for fracture alignment. Contact with the floor negates the traction’s effect, risking bone misalignment and delayed healing, making this an incorrect care practice.
Choice C reason: Checking for skin irritation is critical in Buck’s traction, as prolonged pressure from straps or bandages can cause pressure ulcers or skin breakdown. Regular skin assessment ensures early detection and prevention of complications, maintaining the traction’s safety and efficacy.
Choice D reason: Releasing weights disrupts the continuous force needed for fracture alignment in Buck’s traction. This can lead to bone displacement, increased pain, or delayed healing, making scheduled weight release an inappropriate and harmful practice.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Controlled hypertension, when managed with medications, poses minimal risk to postoperative healing. Stable blood pressure ensures adequate tissue perfusion, supporting wound healing and recovery. It is not a significant risk factor compared to other conditions that directly impair tissue repair.
Choice B reason: Obesity significantly increases the risk of impaired postoperative healing due to increased mechanical stress on the surgical site, reduced tissue oxygenation, and higher rates of infection. Adipose tissue has poor vascularity, delaying wound healing, and obesity is associated with comorbidities like diabetes, further complicating recovery.
Choice C reason: Osteoarthritis, the primary indication for knee arthroplasty, does not directly impair postoperative healing. It affects joint cartilage but not the body’s wound healing mechanisms, such as collagen synthesis or immune response, making it a less significant risk factor.
Choice D reason: Mild osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, indicates slightly reduced bone density but does not significantly affect soft tissue healing or surgical outcomes. It may influence implant stability long-term but is less critical for immediate postoperative healing compared to obesity.
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