Medical-Surgical Nursing Case Study

JR was brought to the rehabilitation center for the purpose of regaining lower extremity balance and strength. Patient was sent to the hospital after a severe car accident. JR was presented with temperature 96.5, blood pressure 106/59, pulse 90, respirations 20, oxygen saturation levels 96%, PERRLA OU, no JVD, motor strength 4/5 bilaterally. Slight abnormal levels, sodium presented as 134, hemoglobin as 12.4, and hematocrit 36.9. Patient showed abrasions over forearm and knees noted. Wound type incision located left side of spinal, thoracic and lumbar. Weight bearing status is full, and patient can stand up with assistance.

List all Current Medications (Add to table as necessary). Complete detailed medication forms per instructor discretion.

Medication Dose and Route Times given Medication Dose and Route Times given

Docusate Sodium 100 mg bid

Acetaminophen 650 mg PO 2 tab 325 mg q4h

Almacone MALOX LIQ 1 PO PRN q4h

Bisacodyl 10 mg 2-tab x 5 mg PRN daily

Pathophysiology

Lewis’ Medical-surgical nursing is your first reference. You may supplement

Mechanism of injury includes flexion, hyperextension, flexion-rotation, compression and extension-rotation. Flexion-rotation is the most unstable because of all the ligamentous structures that stabilize the spine are torn. Skeletal level of injury is the vertebral level where there is most damage to vertebral bones and ligaments. The level of injury includes the cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral. Cervical and lumbar injuries are the most common because they involve the greatest movement and flexibility. The degree of injury results complete or incomplete, meaning either total loss of sensory and motor function below level of injury or mixed levels of tracts intact. It all depends on the level of injury that reflects nerve tract damage (Lewis et al., 2014,