Buck’s Traction - ati PDF

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Description

ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATE:

Nursing Skill

Rene Ramos STUDENT NAME _____________________________________ Buck’s Traction SKILL NAME____________________________________________________________________________

REVIEW MODULE CHAPTER ___________

Description of Skill Treatment that exerts a pulling force on a part of the body, usually the spine, the pelvis, or a long bone of the arm or leg, by applying force to the skin below the affected area Used to reduce fractures, treat dislocations, correct or prevent deformities, improve or correct contractures, immobilize an affected limb, or decrease muscle spasms, pain, or edema Applied directly to the skin (indirectly to the bone) Used when a light, temporary, or noncontinuous pulling force is required, usually a weight of 5 to 7 lb (2.3 to 3.2 kg)

Indications Correcting or preventing knee and hip contractures Resting the limb Preventing spasm of injured muscles and joints Temporarily immobilizing a fractured limb

Outcomes/Evaluation Active healing of injury site No muscle spasms Maintain adequate pain management and neurovascular status The patient will be able to move in bed as tolerated.

Potential Complications Pressure injuries Muscle atrophy Weakness Contractures Osteoporosis Urinary stasis and calculi Pneumonia Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolism Osteomyelitis Nonunion or delayed union of the bone Compartment syndrome Complications of immobility Depression

ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATES

CONSIDERATIONS

Nursing Interventions (pre, intra, post) Pretreatment Care Explain the treatment and preparation to the patient and family, including any mobility restrictions once the traction is applied. Verify that the patient has signed an appropriate informed consent form. Set up appropriate traction equipment and a frame. Clean the affected extremity, and then dry the skin. Posttreatment Care Administer medications, as ordered, such as analgesics for pain. Show the patient how much movement is permitted. Help the patient turn and move within limitations. Provide comfort measures. Use pillows for support and to maintain alignment. Provide meticulous skin care, especially to bony prominences and pressure areas. Assess neurovascular status frequently. Check for skin color, pain, pulses, and evidence of paresthesi and report any changes to the practitioner. Unwrap skin traction every shift and assess the skin for redness, warmth, blisters, and other signs of breakdown. Have another qualified person hold the traction straps in place to prevent slipping. Don’t unwrap the affected extremity unless ordered to do so. Maintain the patient in proper body alignment; reposition as necessary.

Client Education Review with the patient and family medications and their dosage, expected results, and possible adverse effects, particularly with analgesics. Inform the patient and family about the setup and care of traction equipment, emphasizing the need for proper alignment and freely hanging weights. (If the patient is receiving pelvic traction, see Learning about pelvic traction.) Show the patient how to use the overhead bed trapeze to reposition without injuring the affected area. Show how much movement is allowed, and instruct the patient not to adjust the equipment. Discuss possible complications with the patient and when to notify the practitioner. Advise the patient on how to prevent and manage complications of immobility, such as increasing fiber in the diet, using stool softeners, increasing fluid intake, frequently changing position, and coughing and breathing deeply. Tell the patient to follow the diet suggested by the practitioner. Teach the patient diversional activities within the limits of the traction.

Nursing Interventions Monitor the patient’s vital signs and intake and output. Report fever. Notify the practitioner if you observe any signs of pulmonary, skin, or bone infection. Monitor for complications of immobility. Arrange for diversional activities, as indicated.

THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURE

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