Neurovascular Assessment

Neurovascular AssessmentPURPOSE: To assess for adequate nerve function and blood circulation tothe parts of the body in order to detect signs and symptoms ofpotential complication such as compartment syndrome.

Assessment of peripheral circulatory:a. Painb. Presence of peripheral pulsesc. Pallor -colour, capillary refill , temperatured. Paresthesia -sensatione. Paralysis -movement

1. Pain • Ask pain score using numerical pain rating scale:

• Assess characteristics of pain: -E.g. Aching, burning, sharp, throbbing, widespread, cramping, constant, periodic, unbearable, pressure

• Assess location of pain, radiating to other parts?• Duration of pain last? Frequency?• Did pain relieve when:-rest?-medication given?-position changed? E.g. elevate leg.

Compartment syndrome• Occurs when excessive pressure builds up within a compartment

due to bleeding or swelling• Increase in pressure resulting in inadequate blood flow to

tissues• The compartment muscle swelling and compresses the blood

vessel and nerve

6Ps(Sign and symptom of compartment syndrome)

1. Pain : pain that does not relieve with all narcotic analgesics and pain with passive stretch

2. Pulses : present 3. Pallor : pale toes/ fingers4. Paresthesia : sensory deficit, tingling sensation5. Pressure : tense swelling6. Paralysis : muscle weakness

• Acute compartment syndrome can also occur after injurieswithout bone fractures, including:-Soft tissue injuries-Burns-Overly tight bandaging-Prolonged compression of a limb during a period of unconsciousness-Surgery to blood vessels of an arm or leg-A blood clot in a blood vessel in an arm or leg-Extremely vigorous exercise, especially eccentric movements (extension under pressure)

•Fasiotomy (the thick, fibrous bands that line the muscles are filleted open, allowing the muscles to swell and relieve the pressure within the compartmen) need to be perform to relieve pain and prevent permanent injury.

Fasiotomy

2. Presence of peripheral/ distal pulse• Feel for the distal pulse on the unaffected extremity

followed by the affected extremity

• Compare the pulse for strong/ mild/ weak/ absent

• An absence of pulse may indicate a lack of arterial flow. Pulses should be assessed distal to the injury or cast to assess whether blood flow is reaching past the injury site and perfusing the remaining limb effectively.

Location of Peripheral Pulses

3. Pallora. ) Observe skin colour at distal of cast.

Pink = arterial pressure is normal Whitish = decreased arterial supply Bluish = venous stasis.

b.) Capillary refill• The capillary nail refill test is a quick test done

on the nail beds. • It is used to monitor dehydration and the

amount of blood flow to the peripheral tissue.

How to check?• Pressure is applied to the nail bed until it turns white.

It is called as blanching. Once the tissue has blanched, pressure is removed.• After the pressure is removed, measure the time it

takes for blood to return to the tissue. Return of blood is indicated by the nail turning back to a pink color.

• If there is good blood flow to the nail bed, a pink color should return in less than 3 seconds after pressure is removed.

• Abnormal results: - Slow = more than 3 sec- Sluggish = more than 5 sec

c.) Temperature • Feel for the temperature of unaffected and affected

extremities• Compare for warm/ cool/cold, bilateral or unilateral

4.an abnormal condition in which you feel a sensation of numbness, tingling or prickling.also be described as a pins-and-needles or skin-crawling sensationmost often occurs in the extremities, e.g. the hands, feet, fingers, and toes, but it can occur in other parts of the body.

How to perform?1. Assess the patient’s response towards physical

stimulation by touching.

2. Begin the examination on a normal part of the body and move toward an area of altered sensation by using a pin.

3. Test on the area which have higher sensitivity (e.g. middle part of foot sole), avoid thicked skin area (less sensitivity toward stimulation).

a condition involving a loss of muscle function in the bodyusually due to damage to the nervous system, there is loss of

motor function or sensory information.

• Paresthesia = loss of sensation.• Paralysis = loss of movement and sensations.

5.

How to perform?

1. Instruct patient to perform simple range of motion (ROM) or isometric exercise such as

2. Assess patient’s ability to perform the simple movement.

SCENARIOMADAM TAN ,50 years old, is admitted for fracture ofright ulna. She is on POP and arm sling.

Reference • The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. http

://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/_policies/pdf/2014-9096.pdf• US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes

of Health. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788190/• WebMD. http://

www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/compartment-syndrome-causes-treatments

• White CJ. Atherosclerotic peripheral arterial diseases. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds.Cecil Medicine• Health Grades, Paresthesiahttp://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/paresthesia• International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, Paresthesias: A Practical Diagnostic Approachhttp://www.chiro.org/ChiroZine/FULL/Paresthesias.shtml