Question

When assessing distal circulation in a patient with a swollen deformed femur, you should:

A) Apply a tourniquet proximal to the injury
B) Assess capillary refill time
C) Elevation of the extremity
D) Apply direct pressure to the femur

Answer 1

To assess distal circulation in a patient with a swollen, deformed femur, one should assess capillary refill time, which should take less than 2 seconds to indicate proper blood flow.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing distal circulation in a patient with a swollen deformed femur, you should assess capillary refill time. This is a quick test to determine the efficiency of the circulatory system in the extremity and to check for proper blood flow. To perform this, the clinician would press on a fingernail or the skin to blanch it and then release to see how quickly the blood returns to the area, which should normally take less than 2 seconds. It is important not to apply a tourniquet, as this can further disrupt blood flow, and while direct pressure might be used to control bleeding, it is not used to assess circulation. Elevation can help reduce swelling, but for assessing circulation directly, capillary refill is the most relevant.