The nurse is caring for a child with a fracture who is placed in skeletal traction. The nurse monitors for the most serious complication associated with this type of traction by checking for which?

B. The most serious complication associated with skeletal traction is osteomyelitis, an infection that involves the bone. This condition can occur when organisms gain access to the bone either systemically or through the openings created by the metal pins or wires used in the traction. A. Increased blood pressure can occur for various reasons but it is not the most serious complication associated with skeletal traction. C. A decrease in urine output could indicate systemic infection which is a late feature of osteomyelitis and therefore, not the earliest to monitor. D. Changes in appetite can occur in response to pain or stress but they are not typically the most serious complication associated with skeletal traction.