Lecture: Musculoskeletal System - Soft Tissue Injuries

Introduction

• Importance of active learning and engagement.
• Nurses must acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes for patient care.
• Reflect on prior experiences and knowledge gaps.
• Review learning objectives and ensure understanding.

Overview of Soft Tissue Components

• Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments:
  • Tendon: Attaches muscle to bone.
  • Ligament: Attaches bone to bone.
  • Key roles in movement, positioning, and joint mobility.

Types of Soft Tissue Injuries

Contusions

• Caused by blunt force, leading to bruising and pain.
• Can be minor or severe, potentially limiting joint motion.
• Healing typically occurs in 1-2 weeks.

Strains

• Injury to muscle or tendon due to overuse or stress.
• Known as "pulled muscles," common in legs, feet, and back.
• Acute (single incident) or chronic (repeated stress).

Sprains

• Injury to ligaments around a joint due to twisting or hyperextension.
• Most common in ankles, knees, wrists.
• Leads to joint instability.

Dislocation

• Misalignment of bones in a joint, often in the shoulder.
• Can be partial (subluxation) or complete.
• Risk of nerve and blood vessel entrapment.
• Avascular necrosis: Tissue death due to lack of blood flow.

Compartment Syndrome

• Pressure build-up in muscle compartments, potentially leading to necrosis.
• Symptoms include severe pain, pale skin, and pulselessness.
• Emergency requiring surgical intervention (fasciotomy).

Assessment and Diagnosis

• Neurovascular assessments essential, focusing on the "Six P's":
  • Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Poikilothermia (coldness).
• Importance of understanding pathological signs and symptoms.

Nursing Care and Interventions

• Symptom Management:
  • Immobilization, pain management, PRICE protocol (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).
• Diagnosis Examples:
  • Risk for falls, acute pain, impaired tissue perfusion.
• Intervention Examples:
  • X-rays, reduction of dislocations, fasciotomy for compartment syndrome.

Patient Education

• Home care, weight-bearing status, mobility devices, and signs of complications.
• Addressing psychosocial concerns such as ADLs and work.

Self-care for Nurses

• Importance of safety and self-care to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.
• Balance patient needs with personal health.

Conclusion

• Reflect on content, review notes, and test understanding.
• Be prepared to fill knowledge gaps for mastering content.