Which type of fracture occurs when a piece of bone is torn away by a ligament or tendon?

In a patient with an open fracture (compound fracture), there is a risk of infection due to the exposure of the bone to the external environment. The nurse should assess for signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, and increased pain at the fracture site.

a. Assessing joint range of motion is important, but it is not the priority in a patient with an open fracture, where preventing infection is the main concern.
b. Assessing neurological function in the unaffected limb is not directly related to the open fracture and may not be the priority at this time.
d. Assessing the quality of pain experienced by the patient is important for pain management but is not the priority over assessing for signs of infection in an open fracture.

For a stable closed fracture, cast immobilization is a common treatment option. A cast helps support and protect the fractured bone, allowing it to heal properly.

a. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF): ORIF is a surgical procedure used for complex or unstable fractures that cannot be treated with a cast alone.
b. Traction: Traction is applied to realign and stabilize fractures, but it is not typically the first-line treatment for stable closed fractures.
d. External fixation: External fixation involves using pins and an external frame to stabilize fractures, and it is typically used for complex or open fractures.