A nurse is assessing a client who has a possible right pneumothorax.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale:

"Uneven shoulder and pelvic heights." This is the correct answer. Uneven shoulder and pelvic heights, along with an asymmetrical appearance of the spine when viewed from the back, are clinical manifestations of scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that often develops during the growth spurt before puberty. Screening for scoliosis typically involves assessing the alignment of the spine and looking for these asymmetries.

Choice B rationale:

Exaggerated curvature of the sacrum is not a typical sign of scoliosis. Scoliosis primarily affects the upper back and can cause a side-to-side curvature of the spine, not the sacrum.

Choice C rationale:

Limited range-of-motion of the hips is not a specific indicator of scoliosis. Restricted hip movement might suggest other musculoskeletal issues but is not directly related to scoliosis.

Choice D rationale:

Mild pain in the hip region is not a characteristic symptom of scoliosis. While scoliosis can cause discomfort, it typically manifests as back pain, not specifically in the hip region. Pain symptoms can vary widely among individuals and might not be present in all cases of scoliosis.

Choice A rationale:

Paradoxical chest movement refers to the abnormal inward movement of the chest during inhalation and outward movement during exhalation. It is not a typical finding in pneumothorax. Instead, paradoxical chest movement is often observed in conditions such as flail chest.

Choice B rationale:

Reduced right-sided breath sounds are a common finding in right pneumothorax. Air in the pleural space can cause lung collapse, leading to decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

Choice C rationale:

High-pitched stridor is a sound heard during inspiration and indicates upper airway obstruction, often due to conditions like croup or epiglottitis. It is not a characteristic finding in pneumothorax.

Choice D rationale:

Intercostal retractions occur when the tissues between the ribs are pulled inward during inspiration. While retractions can be seen in various respiratory distress conditions, they are not specific to pneumothorax.