ORIF Care
The surgical management technique, ORIF (Open Reduction and Internal Fixation), treats bone fractures. Making an incision in the skin close to the fracture site, reducing and realigning the fracture, and stabilizing the decreased fracture using plates, screws, and wires are common steps. The process enables the shattered bones to mend correctly and in the right place (Hoffman & Sullivan, 2019). The ankle, hip, elbow, wrist, and shoulder fractures are frequently treated with ORIF. Some complications include joint stiffness, blood clots, infection, and implant failure.
Pathophysiology
An ankle fracture led to the patient’s hospitalization in this case study. A common injury following a fall was the patient’s 2.5 cm transverse fracture of the posterior malleolus. An ankle fracture may result when a fall’s force exceeds the stability of the ankle joint’s bones and ligaments. This fracture is called an open fracture because the skin has broken, and the underlying tissue is visible. In Mr. Smith’s case, the anterior-inferior tibiofibular syndesmotic ligament was torn in addition to the fracture.
The tibia and fibula are the two bones that comprise the syndesmosis; ligaments and a fibrous membrane join them (S. Kumar & Kumar S. 2015). The ankle is stabilized by this joint, which also resists forces applied across the joint. When the syndesmosis is damaged, the ankle may become unstable and hurt. The patient may require surgery to heal the fracture and ligaments, depending on the seriousness of the fracture and the degree of ligament damage.
Nursing Care
A patient with an ankle fracture will receive nursing care geared toward comfort and healing. To manage pain, the nurse should evaluate the patient’s level of discomfort and administer drugs as necessary. Also, the nurse should evaluate the patient’s neurovascular condition and watch for any infection-related symptoms like swelling or redness. The nurse should check for any indications of poor circulation, such as tingling or numbness in the extremity. The patient’s mental state should also be under the nurse’s observation. Due to their injuries, the patient may experience anxiety (I. Lund, & B. Rasmussen, 2017). Thus, it is critical to look for indications of sadness or anxiety.
The patient will benefit from the nurse’s emotional support and assurance as they learn to deal with their injury. The nurse should also educate the patient about their injuries and the value of adhering to their doctor’s recommendations to heal. The nurse should also educate the patient on safety precautions that can be taken to avoid further harm, such as wearing supportive footwear and walking with good body mechanics. The nurse should also educate the patient about their injuries and the value of adhering to their doctor’s recommendations to heal. The nurse should also educate the patient on safety precautions that can be taken to avoid further harm, such as wearing supportive footwear and walking with good body mechanics.
References
Hoffman, J. J., & Sullivan, N. J. (2020). Davis advantage for medical-surgical nursing (2nd ed). F.A. Davis Company. https:fadavisreader.vitalsource.com/books/97811719642156/
I. Lund, & B. Rasmussen, (2017). Syndesmotic Injury of the Ankle. in Stat Pearls [online].Stat Pearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513089/
S. Kumar & Kumar, S. (2015). Ankle Fractures. in Stat Pearls [online]. Stat Pearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482279/
