Question

Which nursing intervention is essential in caring for a client with compartment syndrome? wrapping the affected extremity with a compression dressing to help decrease the swelling keeping the affected extremity below the level of the heart removing all external sources of pressure, such as clothing and jewelry starting an i.v. line in the affected extremity in anticipation of venogram studies?

Answer 1

The nurse should remove all external sources of pressure, such as clothing or jewelry. This is because you do not want further constriction, and it is an attempt to save the tissues from further damage. The external sources of pressure might cause damage to the patient due to their compartment syndrome.