Mobility+Lecture+SP+2025+-+Students
MOBILITY
Definition: Ability to move or be moved freely and easily, essential for daily activities.
Factors Affecting Mobility: Physical conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries, degenerative diseases, aging.
Importance in Nursing: Nurses assess, maintain, and improve patients' mobility, addressing underlying health concerns and quality of life issues.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Differentiate between strains, sprains, & dislocations.
Identify clinical manifestations, treatment modalities, complications, and rehabilitation needs of common fractures.
Describe nursing management and health education for patients with casts, splints, braces, or in traction.
Utilize the nursing process for adult patients with hip fractures or knee injuries.
Recognize sports and occupation-related musculoskeletal disorders, their signs/symptoms, and treatments.
Describe site actions, indications, pharmacokinetics, contraindications, adverse reactions, and drug-drug interactions for:
Anti-inflammatory agents
Bisphosphonates
Muscle Relaxants
Opiates.
Outline nursing considerations and patient teaching needs for each class mentioned.
NCLEX TEST PLAN
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacology
Reduction of Risk
Physiological Adaptation
REVIEW OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY
Number of Bones: Adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones for structural support, protection, and mobility.
Joints: Connections between bones allowing a wide range of motion.
Growth & Development: Bone growth primarily occurs during childhood and adolescence, peaking in early adulthood.
Bone Remodeling: Continuous process of bone resorption and formation, ensuring strength and adaptation to stress.
FUNCTIONS OF THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
Framework: Supports the body, maintaining its weight-bearing and upright structure.
Support: Maintains the shape/form of the body by supporting surrounding tissues like muscles and organs.
Movement: Assists through muscle attachment and joint formation, enabling motion.
Protection: Shields vital organs like the brain, heart, and lungs from injury.
DYNAMIC NATURE OF BONES
Bone Remodeling: Process of constant remodeling and adaptation throughout life.
Peak Bone Mass: Achieved during puberty; critical for future bone health.
Bone Loss: Increases with age, heightening fracture risk. Importance of calcium, exercise, and vitamin D for health.
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE ELDERLY
Increased Bone Resorption: Leads to osteoporosis and higher fracture risk.
Decreased Bone Density: Loss of muscle mass/strength affects mobility and balance.
Joint Stiffness and Pain: Due to cartilage degeneration and inflammation.
Reduced Flexibility: Impacting overall movement restrictions.
EXEMPLARS: MOBILITY ISSUES
Fractures (Hip): Common in elderly post-fall; types include comminuted, displaced, and non-displaced.
Joint Replacement (Hip and Knee): Surgical replacements due to arthritis.
Sprains, Strains, and Dislocations: Definitions and differences in injuries to ligaments and muscles.
CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS OF FRACTURES
Fractures: Pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, limited motion, inability to bear weight.
Sprains: Pain, swelling, bruising, joint movement difficulty.
Strains: Pain, spasms, swelling, weakness in muscles or tendons.
Dislocations: Deformity, pain, loss of function.
CAUSES OF FRACTURES
Trauma from falls, accidents, sports injuries.
Osteoporosis or weakened bone structure.
Overuse/repetitive stress injuries (stress fractures).
Diseases impacting bone integrity (e.g., cancer).
TYPES OF FRACTURES
Simple (Closed): Bone breaks without puncturing skin.
Compound (Open): Bone breaks and pierces skin; higher risk of infection.
Comminuted: Bone shatters into multiple pieces.
Displaced: Bone fragments misaligned.
Greenstick: Partial fracture, typically in children.
Transverse: Straight break across bone.
Spiral: Twisting break from rotational forces.
COMPOUND VS. COMPLEX FRACTURES
Compound (Open): High infection risk; requires immediate surgical intervention.
Complex (Comminuted): Shattered bone, significant surrounding damage; may require advanced surgery.
MANIFESTATIONS OF FRACTURE
Acute pain, loss of function, deformity, shortening of the extremity, crepitus, swelling, and discoloration. Typically diagnosed through symptoms and radiography.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURE
Immobilization: Essential to prevent further injury; immobilize joints above and below the fracture.
Assess Neurovascular Status: Important before and after splinting.
Open Fracture: Cover with sterile dressing.
Do Not Attempt to Reduce: Avoid manipulation of the fracture on site.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURE
Fracture Reduction: Align fractured fragments via manipulation or traction.
Closed Reduction: Internal fixation holds fragments (pins, screws).
Open Reduction: External casting/splinting.
COMPLICATIONS OF FRACTURES
Early Complications: Shock, fat embolism, compartment syndrome, VTE.
Delayed Complications: Delayed union, malunion, nonunion, avascular necrosis, CRPS, heterotopic ossification.
SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Hemiarthroplasty, meniscectomy, amputation, fasciotomy, open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), joint replacements.
CONTRAINDICATIONS TO SURGERY
Active infections, rapidly progressing inflammation, osteoporosis, severe medical conditions (heart/lung issues).
HIP FRACTURES
Initial Treatment: Immobilization, traction, reduction.
Surgical Interventions: ORIF, hip replacement.
HIP REPLACEMENT POST-PROCEDURE
Leg Abduction: Maintained to prevent dislocation.
Pain Management: Key to patient comfort.
Early Mobilization: Encouraged to prevent complications.
Post-Op Education: Focus on precautions and rehabilitation goals.
PREVENTING DISLOCATION
Focus on positioning, avoid excessive movements, use assistive devices like abduction pillows.
KNEE AND SHOULDER REPLACEMENTS
Knee Replacement: Commonly for arthritis/trauma; involves prosthetic knee implant.
Shoulder Replacement: Involves prosthetic implant for various shoulder conditions.
TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT
Weight Bearing: Start with partial; avoid bending/twisting.
Pain Management: Medications and wound care essential for recovery.
JOINT REPLACEMENT CARE
Preoperative Care: Assessment, education, and prep.
Postoperative Care: Focus on pain management, rehabilitation, and mobility exercises.
NURSING CARE & ASSESSMENT
Monitor for infection, DVT, dislocation risks; assess mobility, pain levels, ADLs.
SPRAINS, STRAINS, AND DISLOCATIONS
Sprains: Injury to ligaments.
Strains: Injury to muscles/tendons.
Dislocations: Bone displacement from joint position.
NURSING MANAGEMENT FOR STRAINS, SPRAINS, AND DISLOCATIONS
Monitor for pain/inflammation, provide RICE education, assist with immobilization, and follow-up care.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
IMAGERY: MRI, arthrography, electromyography, biopsy, and arthrocentesis.
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
Pain management, neurovascular assessment, exercise promotion, nutrition, hydration, and improving mobility.
PREVENTION OF MOBILITY ISSUES
Safe environment, weight management, fall risk assessment, proper warm-up before activities.
CLIENT EDUCATION
Fractures: Educate on cast care, signs of complications, safe mobility techniques.
Joint Replacements: Post-operative care, signs of complications, strength exercises.
Sprains/Strains/Dislocations: R.I.C.E. method for recovery.
EDUCATION NEEDS OF PATIENTS WITH A CAST, BRACE, OR SPLINT
Signs to report: persistent pain, changes in sensation, infection signs.
Follow-up care necessary for cast removal and after care.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Pain Relief Medications: Opioids, NSAIDs, acetaminophen.
Antibiotics: Post-surgery for joint replacement patients.
Muscle Relaxants: For strains/sprains.
INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAM
PTs assess functionality; OTs enhance functional independence; Nurses support rehabilitation.