A nurse is reinforcing teaching about home management with the partner of a client who has dementia. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale:
• Compartment syndrome: Casts can restrict swelling, increasing pressure within the compartment. Moderate toe edema and capillary refill slowing from brisk to 3 seconds are warning signs. Without prompt intervention, tissue perfusion may decline, leading to ischemia.

• Edema of toes: Progressive edema signals impaired venous return or rising intracompartmental pressure. It reflects worsening limb status under the cast. This change, with slowed refill, supports risk for compartment syndrome.

• Malunion: Malunion develops over weeks due to misalignment during healing. No imaging or prolonged healing time is reported. Acute symptoms like swelling and pain don’t indicate this long-term issue.

• Physeal damage: Growth plate injury would affect long-term limb development. The adolescent shows intact toe movement and normal limb function otherwise. No evidence of joint or bone disruption is presented.

• Inability to ambulate: The femur fracture and cast already restrict ambulation. Lack of walking is expected at this stage. It doesn't suggest any specific complication like infection or compartment syndrome.

• Infection: Fever is low-grade and expected post-injury or from opioids. No redness, drainage, or systemic illness is present. Pain is stable and localized, not escalating or spreading.

• Decreased dorsalis pedis pulse: Pulses are 2+, meaning circulation is present and adequate. Decreased or absent pulse would indicate severe compromise, but that is not seen here. It does not reflect early compartment syndrome.

Rationale:

A. "I will irrigate the colostomy every day.": Colostomy irrigation is used for descending or sigmoid colostomies to regulate bowel movements. It is not recommended for ascending colostomies because the stool is too liquid and unpredictable for effective irrigation.

B. "I will notify my doctor if the stoma starts to look purple.": A healthy stoma should be pink or red and moist. A purple or dusky appearance suggests compromised blood flow or ischemia and should be reported to the provider immediately as it may indicate a serious complication.

C. "I should expect my stool to be formed.": Stool from an ascending colostomy is generally liquid to semi-liquid due to the location in the digestive tract. Formed stool is more typical of descending or sigmoid colostomies, not ascending ones.

D. "I will no longer be able to eat nuts.": While some clients may choose to avoid certain foods based on personal tolerance, there is no absolute dietary restriction against nuts for colostomy clients unless otherwise advised.