A trauma patient with fracture and soft tissue injury should be monitored after surgery for evidence indicating vascular or neural injury.
Signs of possible post-operative complication:
(1) persistent or increasing pain in the extremity
(2) redness, heat and/or swelling
(3) paresthesias in the limb
(4) restricted motion in the digits (toes or fingers)
(5) temperature difference in the extremity
(6) discoloration (pale white or livid) of the extremity
A patient with one or more of these findings should be evaluated promptly. Delay in treatment can result in serious injury and possibly loss of a limb.
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