Final answer:
When a patient tripped, fell, and landed on her elbow with severe pain and obvious deformity, the immediate action should be to manually stabilize the injury. Assessing distal pulses and assessing the elbow for crepitus are important steps in evaluating the extent of the injury. Applying rigid board splints may be necessary, but it should be done after stabilizing the injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient trips, falls, and lands on their elbow with severe pain and obvious deformity, it is important to take immediate action. The most appropriate course of action in this situation would be to manually stabilize the injury. By holding the injured elbow in place, you can help prevent further damage and reduce pain.
Assessing distal pulses, which refers to checking the pulse in the wrist, is also important in evaluating the extent of the injury and ensuring adequate blood flow. However, in this scenario, manually stabilizing the injury should be the first priority.
Assessing the elbow for crepitus, which is a crackling or grinding sound in the joints, can help determine if there is a fracture or other joint damage. Applying rigid board splints may be necessary to immobilize the arm and provide support during transportation to a medical facility, but it should be done after stabilizing the injury.