Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 94%
Simulated
A client is admitted for observation with a severely sprained wrist following a skiing accident. To reduce pain and swelling the nurse applies cold packs to the immobilized wrist and maintains elevation as prescribed. Which physiological cause is producing the pain and swelling? Select all that apply.
Correct answer
B,C,D
Rationale
Pain and swelling in a sprained wrist result from: (B) muscle spasms due to protective reflex; (C) tearing of ligaments causing bleeding and inflammation; (D) stretching of ligaments beyond elastic limit triggering inflammatory cascade. Option A describes mechanism but not physiological cause of symptoms; E (tendinosis) is chronic tendon degeneration, not acute sprain-related.