Question

A nurse is providing follow-up care for a client who sustained a compound fracture 3 weeks ago. The nurse should recognize that an unexpected finding for which of the following laboratory values is a manifestation of osteomyelitis and should be reported to the provider?

A.Sedimentation rate
B.Hematocrit
C.Calcium
D.Acid phosphatase

Answer 1

An elevated sedimentation rate is the laboratory value that is a specific indicator of osteomyelitis following a compound fracture and should be reported to the provider. Other values like hematocrit, calcium, and acid phosphatase are less specific for osteomyelitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory value that would most likely indicate osteomyelitis, which should be reported to the healthcare provider, is an elevated sedimentation rate. In the context of osteomyelitis, an increased sedimentation rate is a sign of inflammation or infection, which is an expected complication following a compound fracture. While the other listed laboratory values - hematocrit, calcium, and acid phosphatase - could be relevant in various conditions, they are not specific indicators of osteomyelitis. Hematocrit shows the proportion of red blood cells in the blood, calcium levels relate to bone metabolism and various physiological functions, and acid phosphatase can be elevated in certain bone conditions but is not typically used to diagnose osteomyelitis.

Answer 2

An unexpected finding in a sedimentation rate laboratory test is a potential manifestation of osteomyelitis and should be reported to the provider, as it indicates an inflammation, possibly due to infection (option A).

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should recognize that an unexpected finding for which of the following laboratory values is a manifestation of osteomyelitis and should be reported to the provider? The correct answer here is A. Sedimentation rate. A raised sedimentation rate is indicative of an inflammatory process in the body, such as infection, which could signify osteomyelitis following a compound fracture. The other options, B. Hematocrit, C. Calcium, and D. Acid phosphatase, are not typically associated with infection and would not be considered unexpected findings indicative of osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is an infection in the bone, and it can be a severe complication of a compound fracture which exposes the bone to potential infection. Follow-up care often includes monitoring laboratory values to detect any signs of infection early. The sedimentation rate is a test that measures how quickly erythrocytes settle at the bottom of a test tube of blood; a faster than normal rate can indicate inflammation in the body, often due to infection.

Hence, the answer is option A.