Pediatric Nursing: Neuromuscular, Musculoskeletal, and Integumentary Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pediatric neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, integumentary, and burn disorders based on lecture review notes.

Neural Tube Defects (NTDs)

Serious birth defects of the brain and spine that occur when the neural tube fails to close in the first month of pregnancy, with main types being spina bifida and anencephaly.

Myelomeningocele

The most severe form of spina bifida where a visible sac containing meninges, spinal fluid, and actual spinal cord/nerve roots protrudes through the spine, resulting in neurological damage below the defect.

Meningocele

A form of spina bifida where a sac containing meninges and CSF protrudes, but the spinal cord and nerves remain in place, usually resulting in no neurological deficit.

Maternal Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP)

A marker in maternal blood that, when elevated, suggests a potential prenatal neural tube defect.

Chiari II Malformation

A complication of NTDs where the brain stem and cerebellum herniate downward, potentially causing apnea, swallowing problems, and stridor.

Latex Allergy in NTDs

A high-risk condition for children with spina bifida due to repeated exposure during frequent surgeries and catheterizations; latex-free equipment must be used from birth.

Neurogenic Bladder

A lack of bladder control common in NTDs that often requires clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and increases the risk of UTIs and renal damage.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

An autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by a mutation/deletion in the $SMN1$ gene, leading to degeneration of motor neurons and progressive muscle atrophy.

Hypotonia

Severe muscle weakness or decreased muscle tone, often referred to as 'floppy baby' appearance, which is a hallmark finding in infants with SMA.

Tongue Fasciculations

A classic clinical manifestation of Spinal Muscular Atrophy involving fine twitching movements of the tongue.

Paradoxical Breathing

A respiratory pattern where the belly rises while the chest sinks, often seen in SMA due to weak intercostal muscles.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)

An X-linked recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene, leading to the absence of dystrophin protein and progressive muscle breakdown.

Gowers' sign

A classic indicator of DMD where a child must 'walk' their hands up their thighs to stand from the floor due to proximal hip and thigh weakness.

Pseudohypertrophy

A clinical finding in DMD where the calves look large and muscular but are actually infiltrated with fat and fibrous tissue.

Creatine Kinase (CK)

A muscle enzyme that is significantly elevated, often $10 \times$ to $100 \times$ normal levels, in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Legg-Calv-Perthes Disease

Idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head, typically affecting boys ages $4$ to $8$, occurring when blood supply to the bone is interrupted.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH)

A spectrum of hip abnormalities present at birth where the femoral head is not properly seated in the acetabulum.

Ortolani Sign

An assessment finding for DDH characterized by a 'clunk' as the hip is reduced back into the socket with abduction.

Barlow Sign

An assessment finding for DDH characterized by a 'clunk' as the hip dislocates with adduction and downward pressure.

Galeazzi (Allis) Sign

A sign of DDH characterized by unequal knee heights when the child's knees are flexed with feet flat on the surface.

Pavlik Harness

A treatment device for DDH in infants from birth up to $6$ months that holds the hips in flexion and abduction to maintain femoral head position.

Bryant's Traction

A type of skin traction used in children under $2 \text{ years}$ old ($< 17.5 \text{ kg}$) where both legs are suspended vertically at a $90^\text{o}$ angle to the bed.

Neurovascular 5 P's

The essential check for compartment syndrome or neurovascular compromise: Pain, Pallor, Pulses, Paresthesia, and Paralysis.

Greenstick Fracture

An incomplete break where the bone bends and cracks on only one side; common in children due to their flexible bones.

Spiral Fracture

A break caused by severe rotational force; in non-ambulatory children, it is a classic sign of non-accidental trauma/child abuse.

Salter-Harris Fracture

Any type of fracture that involves the epiphyseal (growth) plate, classified into five types (SALTR).

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

A chronic autoimmune inflammatory joint disease in children under $16 \text{ years}$ old, lasting more than $6 \text{ weeks}$.

Uveitis

Eye inflammation that can be an asymptomatic complication of JIA, requiring routine slit-lamp exams every $3$ to $6$ months.

Guillain-Barr Syndrome (GBS)

An acute autoimmune polyneuropathy where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves, causing ascending, symmetric muscle weakness.

Tetany

A condition of involuntary muscle spasms and hyperexcitability, most commonly caused by hypocalcemia.

Trousseau Sign

A carpal spasm induced by inflating a BP cuff above systolic pressure for $3 \text{ minutes}$, indicating hypocalcemia/tetany.

Chvostek Sign

Facial muscle twitching elicited by tapping the facial nerve in front of the ear, indicative of hypocalcemia.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)

Also known as 'brittle bone disease,' an autosomal dominant disorder causing defective type I collagen and fragile bones.

Blue Sclerae

A classic clinical manifestation of Osteogenesis Imperfecta where the whites of the eyes appear blue-tinged.

Phantom Limb Sensation

The real sensory experience that an amputated limb is still present, caused by the brain's somatosensory cortex reorganization.

Impetigo

A highly contagious bacterial skin infection (Staph or Strep) characterized by honey-colored crusts.

Tinea Capitis

A fungal infection of the scalp ('ringworm of the head') causing itchy patches of hair loss with 'black dot' broken hair shafts.

Atopic Dermatitis

Also known as eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by severe itching and flexural rashes.

Candida Albicans

A yeast fungus that causes 'beefy red' diaper rash with satellite lesions and oral thrush.

Cellulitis

Acute bacterial infection of the deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue appearing as red, warm, and swollen skin with poorly demarcated borders.

Osteomyelitis

Bacterial infection of the bone, most commonly localized in the metaphysis of long bones in children.

Burn Shock

A state of hypovolemic shock occurring in the first $24$ to $48 \text{ hours}$ after a major burn due to massive fluid shifts from the intravascular to interstitial space.

Parkland Formula

A formula used for burn fluid resuscitation: $4 \text{ mL LR} \times \text{\%TBSA} \times \text{kg}$, with half given in the first $8 \text{ hours}$.

Escharotomy

A surgical incision through dead, leathery tissue (eschar) to relieve pressure and restore circulation in circumferential burns.

Superficial (1st Degree) Burn

A burn involving the epidermis only, characterized by redness and pain without blisters (e.g., sunburn).

Partial-Thickness (2nd Degree) Burn

A burn involving the epidermis and dermis characterized by redness, moisture, and blisters.

Full-Thickness (3rd Degree) Burn

A burn involving all skin layers into subcutaneous tissue, appearing dry and leathery; it is typically painless due to nerve destruction.