Your patient is a 21-year-old football player who was struck in the lateral aspect of the left knee by another player's shoulder. The patient is in extreme pain, and the knee is significantly deformed and swollen. The pedal pulse is weak, but present, and capillary refill is less than 2 seconds. The patient is screaming at you to "fix" his knee. You are 10 minutes from the emergency department. You should:
A) splint the knee as found, start an IV, consider narcotic analgesia.
B) apply gentle axial traction and realign the limb, splint in alignment.
C) flex the knee to a 45-degree angle, splint in position of function.
D) start an IV, administer narcotic analgesia, apply firm axial traction until the pulse returns to normal or resistance is met, then splint.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In cases of traumatic knee injuries with deformity, swelling, and compromised circulation (as indicated by a weak pedal pulse), the priority is to stabilize the limb in the position found, manage pain, and transport the patient to an emergency facility for further evaluation and treatment. Attempting to realign the limb or manipulate it significantly in the field can risk further damage to the vascular and neurological structures. Starting an IV and considering narcotic analgesia for pain management are appropriate steps while ensuring the limb is splinted as found to prevent further injury during transport.

Your Patient Is a 21-Year-Old Football Player Who Was Struck