Question

You respond to local elementary school gym for a report of a 12-year-od student with a broken right arm. As you approach the patient from across the room, you can see angulation and gross deformity to the right humerus. Which joint will you immobilize to prepare the patient for transport?

A. Shoulder and elbow
B. Elbow only
C. Wrist and shoulder
D. Elbow and wrist

Answer 1

To immobilize a fractured right humerus in a 12-year-old student, both the shoulder and elbow joints should be stabilized, which are the joints above and below the fracture site.

Step-by-step explanation:

When preparing a 12-year-old student with a fractured right humerus for transport, the goal is to immobilize the joints above and below the fracture site. Given that the humerus is the bone that forms the upper arm and it articulates with both the shoulder and the elbow, it is vital to immobilize both the shoulder and elbow joints to prevent further injury and assist in managing pain. This approach aligns with the principle that immobilization should include the joints proximal and distal to the injury.

In this case, the correct answer is A. Shoulder and elbow. Immobilizing these joints will help to stabilize the broken arm and minimize movement of the fractured humerus, which is crucial for preventing further damage to surrounding tissues, including nerves and vessels that could lead to complications like ischemia.