Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

What condition should be assessed in a patient exhibiting a warm, red area over the hip after a severe brain injury?

1. Osteoporosis

2. Osteoblastemia

3. Heterotopic ossifications

4. Osteoarthritis

The correct answer is: Heterotopic ossifications

The condition that should be assessed in a patient exhibiting a warm, red area over the hip after a severe brain injury is heterotopic ossification. This condition involves the abnormal formation of bone in non-skeletal tissues, typically occurring in soft tissues around joints. It is particularly associated with neurological injuries, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, where changes in mobility and muscle tone can trigger this process. In the context of the patient, the warm and red area suggests inflammation, which can be indicative of heterotopic ossification developing as a complication post-injury. Early detection is important because this condition can lead to pain, decreased range of motion, and functional impairment if not addressed. The other conditions are less relevant in this case. Osteoporosis involves decreased bone density and is unlikely to present as a localized, warm area. Osteoblastemia, a term not widely recognized in the literature, does not accurately describe any clinical condition. Osteoarthritis, while it can cause warmth and tenderness, is usually chronic and related to degenerative joint changes rather than resulting from a recent severe injury. Thus, assessing for heterotopic ossification is critical given the context of the patient's brain injury and the symptoms presented.