Question

You are assigned to care for David Ramsey, a 22- year- old male who sustained a back injury secondary to being thrown from a motorcycle. He did not damage the spinal cord, but the computed tomography revealed a compression fracture at L-2 ( lumbar area).David complains of severe lower back pain with numbness and tingling in the lower extremities. You identify the following nurse diagnosis: impaired physical mobility. ( Learning objective 4)
a.what assessments are indicated based on this nursing diagnosis?
b. List other major nursing diagnosis based on David's clinical presentation.

Answer 1

A fracture in the lumbar spine causes moderate to severe back pain and patient may experience numbness and tingling sensations or weakness in the limbs.

a)The assessment indicated for nursing diagnosis for impaired physical mobility are make the patient walk at regular pace on level indefinitely but not more.Climb on one flight without stopping but nor more than 50-500 ft.Assess presence or degree of exercise related to pain and changes are made according to it.Assess them for the utlization of devices like wheel chairs,transfer bars to lessen the risk of falling.Assess the safety of environment around them by not keeping children around them and any pets.

b)Diagnosis includes risk of infection related to any skin infections while opening of skin during fracture and any soft tissue injury or any muscle spasm during or after the fracture.