A patient who sustained rib fractures in a motor vehicle accident is stating that his pain medication is ineffective.Inadequate pain control places this patient at risk for which complication?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pain associated with rib fractures causes splinting.Splinting often causes the patient to breathe shallowly and avoid deep coughing to expel sputum,which can lead to pneumonia.Rib fractures can also lead to complications such as pneumothorax and hemothorax; however,they do not result from inadequate pain control.Respiratory acidosis,not metabolic alkalosis,may result from the shallow breaths caused by pain and restricted chest wall movement with splinting.

A Patient Who Sustained Rib Fractures in a Motor Vehicle