Musculoskeletal conditions

Abstract The skeleton, skeletal muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments function to protect the body’s internal organs and facilitate movement and mobility. Disorders of the musculoskeletal system will often be the result of trauma or long-term degenerative conditions, which can affect people of any age, although older people are at increased risk. Many people with musculoskeletal conditions will be treated by specialist orthopaedic and rheumatology services, but general adult nurses will come into contact with many people who are suffering from a range of musculoskeletal disorders. Whether these are muscle sprains, people living with long-term arthritic conditions, people having surgery, or those who have suffered a potentially life-threatening traumatic injury, all will have some degree of compromised movement. It is important that general adult nurses can work with people to help restore function and reduce risk from the many complications which can arise from immobility or disability. This chapter outlines key facts about musculoskeletal conditions which are likely to be useful to the general nurse, alongside clinical investigations, treatments, and key nursing considerations. A summary table of frequently prescribed medicines is also presented.