Question

A nurse is assessing a client with osteoarthritis of the knees. The nurse would most likely detect crepitation during:

a. Palpation.
b. Percussion.
c. Auscultation.
d. Inspection.

Answer 1

Crepitation associated with osteoarthritis of the knees is typically detected during palpation, where the nurse can feel the crackling sound or sensation of the joint surfaces.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse assessing a client with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knees would most likely detect crepitation during palpation. Crepitation is a clinical symptom characterized by a crackling sound or sensation within the joint that occurs when the rough surfaces of the joint rub against each other during movement.

While auscultation is used to assess sounds within the body, like heart sounds or breath sounds with a stethoscope, and percussion might be used for examining body cavities or the thorax, palpation is specifically useful for examining musculoskeletal conditions such as OA where tactile feedback is pivotal.