A patient with a long leg cast reports pain in the toes. The nurse discovers that the toes are pale and cool to the touch with intact pulses and minimal neuropathy. The findings indicate that the patient may be experiencing which complications?

A fat embolism

Osteomyelitis

Compartment syndrome

A pressure ulcer

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. A fat embolism typically presents with respiratory distress, altered mental status, and petechial rash, not the symptoms of pale and cool toes with intact pulses. It is unlikely to cause localized pain in the toes alone.
B. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone and would not cause the pale, cool appearance of the toes in this scenario. Symptoms of osteomyelitis include fever, localized pain, and swelling, but it does not present with the same vascular and neurovascular changes as compartment syndrome.
C. Compartment syndrome occurs when there is increased pressure within a muscle compartment, leading to reduced blood flow. The symptoms of pale, cool toes with pain and intact pulses are indicative of impaired circulation due to increased pressure, which is a hallmark of compartment syndrome. This is a medical emergency that requires prompt intervention.
D. A pressure ulcer typically presents with localized skin damage due to prolonged pressure, but it would not cause pale, cool toes or pain in the way compartment syndrome would.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Ankle pain after running a long distance could indicate overuse or strain, but it is more likely to suggest a muscle or tendon issue rather than a sprain.
B. Twisting the foot while running or changing direction quickly, as often happens in sports like baseball, is a common mechanism for an ankle sprain. Sprains occur when the ligaments are stretched or torn due to excessive force or twisting.
C. Being hit by another player in soccer could cause a contusion or fracture, but it is less likely to cause an ankle sprain unless there was a specific twisting or rolling of the ankle.
D. Dropping a weight on the lower leg is more likely to cause a contusion, fracture, or soft tissue injury rather than a sprain.

A. Heart murmur B. Chest pain C. Crackles in lungs D. Peripheral edema

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Heart murmur: While heart murmurs can occur in various cardiac conditions, they are not a hallmark finding of right-sided heart failure. Murmurs are typically associated with valvular heart disease or structural abnormalities.
B. Chest pain: Chest pain can be a symptom of various heart conditions, but it is not a typical or defining feature of right-sided heart failure.
C. Crackles in lungs: Crackles are more commonly associated with left-sided heart failure, where fluid backs up into the lungs, leading to pulmonary congestion.
D. Peripheral edema: Right-sided heart failure leads to the backup of blood in the systemic circulation, which can cause fluid retention and peripheral edema, especially in the lower extremities. This is a classic sign of right-sided heart failure.

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A patient with a long leg cast reports pain in the toes. The nurse discovers that the toes are pale and cool to the touch with intact pulses and minimal neuropathy. The findings indicate that the patient may be experiencing which complications?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse at an urgent care center is caring for four clients who all have leg or foot injuries. Which of the following client reports should suggest to the nurse that the client has an ankle sprain?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who has right-sided heart failure. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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