Case Study Essay
Doris is a 28-year-old woman under the care of a physician in New York. She has a broken leg as a result of a fall during her sports activities. This condition causes her to experience a number of signs and symptoms, which include acute leg pain, deformity, inability to move the broken leg and walk, swelling, heat, and discoloration of the damaged area. There is no break in the skin; that is why it is a closed fracture. Emergency care was required at the initial stage: the injury was splinted, cold was applied to reduce pain, and the leg was elevated to reduce severe pain as well as treat for shock (Cichoke 140).
It is known that homeostasis occurs on different levels: in cells and tissues, organs and organ systems. As a rule, homeostatic systems operate “through negative feedback”, according to Daniel Chiras (82). Under healthy homeostatic conditions human organism maintains not only constant levels of chemical components, such as hormones and nutrients, ions and wastes, but also it maintains physical conditions, such as normal body temperature, blood pressure, blood flow, etc.
In the case of Doris, homeostasis was disrupted in the following way: the bone breaks into two (or more) fragments, the tissue within and around this area of the broken bone is torn, most blood vessels at the site of the broken bone are also torn. It is clear that these processes affect the flow of blood and the “delivery of nutrients to the damaged area” (Cichoke 140). As these processes interfere with the normal blood flow, blood starts to infiltrate throughout the adjacent muscles. Within a short period of time (an hour or two), the inflammatory process in the damaged area develops and can be identified by the signs as symptoms (pain, swelling, redness, heat, limited function of the broken leg). It is known that emergency care is of great importance because the tissue can be severely inflamed and the broken bone can be misaligned. In case of a compound fracture, bacteria can enter through the break in the skin leading to infections and deterioration of the broken bone, according to Cichoke (140).
To restore homeostasis conditions, it is recommended to use the appropriate therapy. It has been found that treatment methods may vary, depending on the type of fracture, location of the break and the age of the patient. As in closed fractures, the skin of the patient remains intact, therapy should be the following: it is recommended to prescribe over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce severe pain and inflammation processes, such as “acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or a combination of the two” (Broken Leg: Treatment and Drugs). In case the pain is severe, it is recommended to prescribe an opioid medication, such as codeine and others. In addition, it is necessary to restrict the movement of a broken leg. A cast (or splint) will help to provide immobilization. Moreover, a patient may need some other devices, such as crutches (or a cane). The above mentioned medications and immobilization devices will help to restore homeostasis conditions. Besides, after the cast (or splint) is removed, it would be better to prescribe special rehabilitation exercises or special physical therapy. It will help to reduce stiffness in the broken leg and then, to restore movement.
