A patient is scheduled to have skeletal traction. What should the ...

[kaid0807]

A patient is scheduled to have skeletal traction. What should the nurse recognize about this type of traction?
 
  1. Weighted skin traction will be applied.
  2. A surgical pin will be inserted into a bone and the traction will be applied to the pin.
  3. A cast will be applied to the area and a traction device will be connected to the cast.
  4. Manual traction will be applied.

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient with an external fixator device. What care should the nurse provide to this patient?
 
  1. cleansing pin sites per orders to reduce the chance of infection
  2. adjusting the tension on the pins whenever the patient experiences pain
  3. explaining that bathing in a tub can be resumed after 3 days
  4. encouraging the patient to keep the limb with the external fixator very still.

[Toya9913]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2

Skeletal traction requires the insertion of a pin directly into the bone. This insertion is performed under sterile conditions in the surgical environment. Skeletal traction is used when more weight or longer-term immobilization is desired to maintain proper alignment. Skin traction is used in short-term therapies and does not require the insertion of mechanical hardware. Casts and manual traction are not part of skeletal traction.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
The pins require care to reduce the risk of infection. Adjusting the device is outside the scope of nursing; this is a physician's responsibility. Bathing (soaking in water) in a tub is not permitted due to the chance of infection through pin sites. An external fixator is meant to increase the patient's independence while maintaining immobilization.

[kaid0807]

Thank you

[Toya9913]

No problemo