The nurse is caring for a 16-year-old client with a femur fracture 14 hours after surgery. Assessment findings include tachycardia, increased shortness of breath, a temperature of 100.2 degrees Fahrenheit, complaints of feeling anxious, and an oxygen saturation level of 88%. In immediately notifying the provider of these findings, the nurse recognizes the client is at risk for:

A) Compartment syndrome
B) Atelectasis
C) Myocardial infarction
D) Fatty embolism

The client with post-operative symptoms after femur fracture surgery, including tachycardia and respiratory issues, is most at risk for a fatty embolism. This condition matches their clinical signs and is a known complication following long bone fractures and surgeries.

Explanation:

The 16-year-old client with a femur fracture 14 hours after surgery is displaying symptoms that include tachycardia, shortness of breath, elevated temperature, a feeling of anxiety, and a decreased oxygen saturation level of 88%. These assessment findings suggest the client is at risk for a fatty embolism. Fatty embolism often follows orthopedic injuries and surgeries, especially those involving long bones like the femur. The clinical signs of a fatty embolism can include tachycardia, fever, respiratory distress, and neurological symptoms such as anxiety, which is aligned with the client's current symptoms.