A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client who is pregnant and asks how she should help her 4-year-old son prepare for the new baby. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

• Deep vein syndrome: This is not a recognized condition. The intended term may have been deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a valid orthopedic complication, but the clinical findings in this scenario point more urgently toward compartment syndrome and infection.
• Osteomyelitis: The client has an open fracture with drainage from the splint, a significantly elevated WBC count (28,000/mm³), and a high fever (38.9°C / 102°F). These findings suggest the development of a bone infection (osteomyelitis), especially in the context of recent surgery and internal fixation.
• Fat embolism syndrome: While fat embolism is a risk with long bone fractures, this client is not displaying key hallmark signs such as respiratory distress, petechiae, or altered mental status. The findings are more consistent with infection and circulatory compromise.
• Compartment syndrome: The client has classic signs including cool foot, numbness, inability to move toes, absent pulses, delayed capillary refill, and increased pain. These are hallmark signs of neurovascular compromise from compartment syndrome, a surgical emergency.

A. Irrigate the wound using a 10-mL syringe. A 10-mL syringe does not provide adequate pressure for effective irrigation. Typically, a 30- to 60-mL syringe with an 18-gauge catheter is used to deliver appropriate pressure (between 4–15 psi) to clean wounds effectively.
B. Irrigate the wound with a low-pressure flow of solution. This is correct. A low-pressure irrigation system helps gently remove debris and bacteria without damaging healthy tissue. It also minimizes the risk of forcing contaminants deeper into the wound bed.
C. Cleanse the insertion site of the drain using a circular motion toward the center. The site should be cleansed from the center outward, not toward the center, to prevent dragging contaminants into the insertion site and reduce infection risk.
D. Cleanse the wound starting at the bottom and moving upward. Wound cleaning should occur from the least contaminated (top) to the most contaminated (bottom) area to avoid transferring microorganisms from dirtier areas to cleaner areas, thereby minimizing the risk of infection.