A nurse is collecting data from a client who is 1 day postoperative following an open reduction internal fixation of the right femur. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider?

This scenario requires evaluating postoperative assessment data following orthopedic surgery to identify potential complications. Knowledge of neurovascular compromise, normal wound healing, expected inflammatory responses, and early signs of compartment syndrome or nerve injury must be applied to determine findings that require reporting. Choice A rationale Capillary refill measures peripheral tissue perfusion, with a normal reference range of less than or equal to 2 seconds. A 3-second delay is slightly prolonged but expected due to localized postoperative edema and does not indicate immediate severe compromise. Choice B rationale Scant sanguineous drainage, consisting of bloody fluid, is an expected finding on a surgical dressing within the first 24 hours after an open reduction internal fixation due to normal localized vascular trauma and postoperative oozing. Choice C rationale A temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius is a low-grade fever, which is common during the first 24 to 48 hours postoperatively. This represents a normal, physiological inflammatory response to surgical tissue trauma rather than a systemic infection. Choice D rationale Tingling or paresthesia distal to the fracture site indicates neurological or vascular impairment. This finding suggests potential nerve compression or developing compartment syndrome, which reduces tissue perfusion and requires immediate medical intervention to prevent permanent tissue damage.