Question

You have applied a zippered air splint to a patient's left arm. During transport, the patient complains of increased numbness and tingling in his left hand. You reassess distal circulation and note that it remains present. Your MOST appropriate action should be to:

A. elevate the injured arm and reassess distal sensory function.
B. inflate the splint with more air until the patient is comfortable.
C. assess the amount of air in the splint and let air out as necessary.
D. remove the air splint and reimmobilize with padded board splints.

Answer 1

C. assess the amount of air in the splint and let air out as necessary. The most appropriate action when a patient complains of increased numbness and tingling in their hand while wearing a zippered air splint is to assess the amount of air in the splint and let air out as necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

The MOST appropriate action when a patient experiencing increased numbness and tingling in their hand while wearing a zippered air splint is to C. assess the amount of air in the splint and let air out as necessary. This is because the increased numbness and tingling may be an indication that the splint is too tight, impeding proper circulation to the hand. By assessing and adjusting the amount of air in the splint, the pressure can be relieved and circulation can be restored, alleviating the symptoms.