A 10-year-old child is transported to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance from the scene of a motor vehicle crash. The child is alert and oriented ×3; pulse, respirations, and blood pressure are stable; neck and back are immobilized on a backboard. The nurse sees no obvious bleeding. The child states," I can't move or feel my legs." Which injury does the nurse suspect based on the current data?
A) Spinal cord injury
B) Traumatic shock
C) Traumatic brain injury
D) Ruptured spleen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child's inability to move or feel their legs suggests a potential spinal cord injury, which could be caused by the motor vehicle crash. The immobilization of the neck and back on a backboard further supports this suspicion. The absence of obvious bleeding and stable vital signs make traumatic shock and ruptured spleen less likely. While traumatic brain injury is a possibility with any head trauma, there is no indication of this based on the current data provided.

A 10-Year-Old Child Is Transported to the Emergency Department (ED)