A two-year-old child is placed in balanced Bryant's traction for ...

[cmoore54]

A two-year-old child is placed in balanced Bryant's traction for a fractured right femur. Which finding by the nurse should be reported to the surgeon?
 
  1. The child keeps trying to turn and lay on his belly.
  2. The ropes are unequal in length.
  3. The child's buttocks are resting on the bed.
  4. The ace bandage wrapping the legs is wrinkled.

Question 2

A child is suspected of having Hirschsprung's disease. Which of the following assessment factors would support such a medical diagnosis?
 
  1. History of constipation with large, foul-smelling stools
   2. Continual bouts of foul-smelling diarrhea
   3. Passage of a large amount of meconium in the newborn period
   4. Clay-colored stools

[Cnarkel]

Answer to Question 1

3
Rationale 1: This child needs a jacket restraint to maintain appropriate positioning if someone cannot stay with him. It does not require notifying the surgeon.
Rationale 2: In balanced traction, the ropes and pulleys determine the traction and the length of the rope is unimportant.
Rationale 3: In order to provide adequate counter-traction, the buttocks should be slightly elevated off the bed. The surgeon should be notified.
Rationale 4: This is not a significant finding.
Global Rationale:

Answer to Question 2

1
Rationale:
1. This is the primary symptom of Hirschsprung's disease.
2. Diarrhea is not typical; obstruction is more likely.
3. Hirschsprung's disease is not associated with meconium.
4. Clay-colored stools do not occur with Hirschsprung's disease.