Question

When a client complains of right knee pain, which areas should the nurse examine? a. Only the right knee b. The right ankle, the right knee, and the right hip c. The left lower abdominal quadrant and the left knee d. The right leg and left arm

Short answer

b. The right ankle, the right knee, and the right hip

Step-by-step solution

- Understand the Question

The question asks which areas a nurse should examine when a client complains of right knee pain. Consider which areas might be physically or functionally related to the right knee.

- Consider the Related Areas

The right knee connects to both the right hip and the right ankle. Checking these related joints might help identify if the pain originates from or affects these regions.

- Compare Options

Option a suggests only examining the right knee, which might overlook interconnected issues. Option b includes the right ankle, right knee, and right hip, which are all anatomically and functionally related. Option c focuses on areas that are not directly related, and option d includes areas that aren't logically connected to the right knee pain.

- Choose the Best Option

Reviewing all considerations, option b (the right ankle, the right knee, and the right hip) ensures a thorough examination of the regions that might contribute to or be affected by the knee pain.

Key concepts

joint pain assessment

When a patient presents with joint pain, such as pain in the right knee, it's crucial to perform a comprehensive assessment. Understanding which areas to examine can help identify the underlying cause and guide appropriate treatment.
The primary focus should be on areas anatomically and functionally connected to the joint in pain.
The pain might not originate directly from the joint itself, but could be referred pain from neighboring structures.
Therefore, examining surrounding joints like the hip and ankle is essential.
In our example, assessing the right hip, right knee, and right ankle (option b) is recommended.
This comprehensive approach ensures a complete evaluation of potential contributing factors.

nursing physical examination

A thorough nursing physical examination is critical when assessing joint pain.
The examination must include a visual inspection, palpation, range of motion (ROM) testing, and possibly functional assessments.
During the visual inspection, look for swelling, redness, deformities, or asymmetry in the affected joint and adjacent areas.
Palpation involves gently pressing on the joint and surrounding tissues to detect any warmth, tenderness, or abnormal lumps.
It's important to assess both the active and passive range of motion.
Active ROM is when the patient moves the joint by themselves, while passive ROM is when the nurse moves the joint for them.
Functional assessments might include observing the patient walk or perform specific movements to identify any limitations or pain triggers.

related joint examination

When evaluating a joint complaint, assessing related areas is vital.
In the context of right knee pain, it’s crucial to also examine the right ankle and right hip due to their anatomical and functional connections.
For example, issues in the hip can refer pain to the knee, and problems with the ankle can affect knee mechanics.
This comprehensive evaluation helps in detecting underlying issues that might not be immediately obvious.
Comparing the findings from related areas can help distinguish between primary joint problems and secondary issues arising from other parts of the kinetic chain.
Such an approach ensures that the treatment plan addresses all possible factors contributing to the patient's discomfort.