The nurse receives a client from the postanesthesia care unit who has had skeletal traction applied in the operating room. The nurse should take immediate action to correct which problem with the traction setup when it is noted?

The traction setup is checked to ensure that weights are hanging freely from the ropes and knots are tied securely. The weights should not be resting on the bed. Countertraction is commonly supplied by the client's body weight or by weights pulling in the opposite direction. Therefore, there can be weights at both ends of the bed. Pin-site care varies but usually includes regularly removing exudate with half-strength hydrogen peroxide, rinsing pin sites with sterile saline, and drying the area with sterile gauze; the pin site is left open to air. If any problems are noted, they should be fixed immediately.