JL, a 50 year old woman fell and broke the left tibia at the ankle. She is in the emergency department, waiting for fracture to be immobilized. The leg hurts and she notes the ankle is swelling. A diagnosis of a simple fracture and sprain (damage to ligaments) is made.
1. What is the cause of the sprain and swelling? what can JL expect in the days to come as inflammation resolves and healing begins.
2. What is the rationale for immobilizing the fractured bone.
3. She is told to come back to the fractured clinic in 24 hrs to have her cast checked. What could happen to the inflamed tissue if the edema increases in the casted area.
4. She reports feeling fatigued and anorexic, and has a low-grade temperature. What is the cause of the symptoms.