Posted: August 17th, 2017

The nurse assesses subtle personality changes, restlessness, irritability, and confusion in a patient who has sustained a fracture. The nurse suspects

The nurse assesses subtle personality changes, restlessness, irritability, and confusion in a patient who has sustained a fracture. The nurse suspects
a) fat embolism syndrome.
Cerebral disturbances in the patient with fat embolism syndrome include subtle personality changes, restlessness, irritability, and confusion.
b) compartment syndrome.
With compartment syndrome, the patient complains of deep, throbbing, unrelenting pain.
c) hypovolemic shock.
With hypovolemic shock, the patient would have a decreased blood pressure and increased pulse rate.
d) reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.
Clinical manifestations of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome include severe, burning pain, local edema, hyperesthesia, muscle spasms, and vasomotor skin changes.