Chapter 7, Problem 2CCS

45-Year-Old Female with Dislocated Hip

Kayla Tanner, a 45-year-old mother of four, was involved in a car accident. When emergency responders arrived on the scene and extracted her from the car, they found that her right thigh appeared shorter than her left thigh. They also noticed that even slight hip movement caused considerable pain. Suspecting a hip dislocation, they stabilized and transported her.

In the emergency department, doctors discovered a decreased ability to sense light touch in her right foot, and she was unable to move her toes or ankle. Dislocation of her right hip was confirmed by X ray. Mrs. Tanner was sedated to relax the muscles around the hip, and then doctors placed her in the supine position and performed a closed reduction (“popped” the femur back in place).

2. NCLEX-STYLE After hip dislocation and reduction, the nurse would watch the patient carefully for signs of which of these problems?

a. Sciatic nerve injury

b. Instability of the pubic symphysis

c. Inflammation of the sacroiliac joint

d. Damage to the lateral epicondyle