Question

A 31-year-old male fell and landed on his left elbow. Your assessment reveals that the elbow is grossly deformed, his forearm is cool and pale, and the distal pulse on the side of the injury is barely palpable. His vital signs are stable and he denies any other injuries. Your transport time to the closest appropriate hospital is approximately 15 minutes. You should:

A. splint the elbow in the position found and transport.
B. gently manipulate the elbow to improve circulation.
C. gently straighten the elbow and apply an air splint.
D. apply a heat pack to the elbow to reduce swelling.

Answer 1

Splint the elbow in the found position and transport the patient quickly to the hospital. Manipulation of the elbow could worsen the injury, and applying heat is not recommended due to the risk of increasing swelling.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a 31-year-old male falls and injures his elbow, resulting in a grossly deformed elbow, cool and pale forearm, and a barely palpable distal pulse, immediate care is crucial. Given that the vital signs are stable, and transport time to the hospital is only 15 minutes, the best course of action is to splint the elbow in the position found and transport the patient immediately (Option A). Attempting to manipulate or straighten the elbow could cause further injury or exacerbate the existing condition, which may include potential complications such as ischemia from arterial compression and nerve damage. Applying a heat pack is not advised as it could increase swelling and potentially worsen the condition. Therefore, immobilization and rapid transport to a medical facility is the priority to allow for proper diagnosis and treatment.