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4. The patient with osteoporosis had a spontaneous hip fracture. How should the nurse document this before the x-ray results return?

a. Open fracture
b. Oblique fracture
c. Pathologic fracture
d. Greenstick fracture

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The nurse should document the patient's spontaneous hip fracture as a pathologic fracture, which occurs due to weakened bones from osteoporosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient with osteoporosis experienced a spontaneous hip fracture. Given the circumstances where an x-ray result is not yet available, the nurse should classify the hip fracture as a pathologic fracture. This type of fracture occurs when an underlying disease or condition, such as osteoporosis, has caused a weakness in the bone that makes it susceptible to break under normal conditions of stress or strain. Osteoporosis often leads to a reduction in bone density, particularly affecting the femur among other bones. This hampers the bone's ability to support everyday functions and increases the risk of spontaneous or low-impact fractures.

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