An adolescent client reports to the nurse of walking with a limp due to pain localized in the right knee which worsens at night but denies any recent injury or trauma. The nurse observes swelling and tenderness in the right lower thigh, and imaging results reveal radial ossification in the soft tissues.
Which condition should the nurse consider as the probable cause of the findings?
Osteosarcoma
Growing pains
Rhabdomyolysis
Hemosiderosis
The Correct Answer is A
The adolescent client's symptoms of localized pain, swelling, and tenderness, particularly at night, are suggestive of a malignancy such as osteosarcoma, which is the most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents.
Radial ossification in the soft tissues is a characteristic finding in osteosarcoma and is indicative of bone production by malignant cells. Other imaging modalities, such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may also reveal osteolytic or osteoblastic lesions in the bone.
Growing pains are a common, benign condition that occur in children and do not typically present with the
symptoms described in the case scenario.
Rhabdomyolysis is a medical emergency that involves the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue and release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream. It can present with muscle pain, swelling, and tenderness, but typically occurs as a result of injury, infection, or drug toxicity.
Hemosiderosis is a rare condition characterized by the accumulation of iron in various tissues, including the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. It may present with symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and abdominal pain, but is not typically associated with the symptoms and imaging findings described in the case scenario.
Therefore, the nurse should consider osteosarcoma as the probable cause of the adolescent client's symptoms and imaging findings, and should collaborate with the healthcare team to develop a plan of care for diagnosis and treatment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The nurse should report chest pain to the healthcare provider immediately when caring for a child with sickle cell disease who is experiencing a sickle cell crisis. Chest pain can be a sign of acute chest syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease that requires prompt treatment.
Swelling in the hands or feet, ulcers on the legs, and jaundice are common symptoms of sickle cell disease and do not require immediate reporting to the healthcare provider.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
When caring for a child in balanced suspension skeletal traction, the most important intervention for the nurse to implement is monitoring peripheral pulses and sensation in the affected leg to detect any compromise in circulation or nerve function. This is crucial because the traction places tension on the bones, which can result in nerve or vascular damage.
Changing positions every 2 hours is important to prevent pressure injuries, but it is not the most critical intervention.
Cleansing pin sites and assessing skin for redness and signs of tissue breakdown are also important, but they are not as urgent as monitoring peripheral pulses and sensation.
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