A nurse is taking care of a 20-year-old male who is post-op for a surgical repair of a right tibia and fibula fracture following a motor vehicle accident. The patient has an external fixation device. Which of these is true concerning the nursing care of this patient?

The purpose of most external traction devices is to maintain proper positioning and alignment of the fractured/repaired bone in addition to reducing pain and muscle spasms in the affected extremity. Because this patient has a lower extremity traction device, he will be effectively immobile. Therefore, frequent repositioning will be necessary for his comfort and to maintain his skin integrity. Nursing assessments of his circulatory and neurological systems should be normal and without any deficit or abnormalities. Redness, warmth, edema, and purulent drainage at the pin insertion sites is abnormal and could be signs of infection.