What action should be taken for a patient with a severely deformed knee and absent distal pulses?

In the scenario presented, the correct action involves manually stabilizing the severely deformed knee and contacting medical control for further instructions. This approach is essential because the presence of a severely deformed knee along with absent distal pulses indicates a potential vascular injury or compromise that requires immediate medical evaluation and intervention.

Manual stabilization helps to minimize any further injury to the knee and the surrounding tissues, preventing additional complications like dislocation or damage to blood vessels and nerves. By keeping the joint steady, both the patient’s pain can be managed more effectively, and you can help preserve any remaining blood flow until medical personnel arrive.

Contacting medical control ensures that appropriate advanced care can be arranged as these professionals can provide guidance on how to manage the case further, which is critical in situations where there might be a loss of limb viability due to compromised blood flow.

Other options, while they may seem logical, do not adequately address the immediate need for stabilizing the injury and ensuring proper medical input. Attempting to restore blood flow through traction or manipulation of the limb without advanced care may exacerbate a potential injury, whereas elevating the leg does not directly address the severity of the deformity and the absence of pulses.