Pediatric ATI Practice Exam 2026 - Free Pediatric Practice Questions and Study Guide

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a non-specific marker of inflammation in the body. A normal ESR can vary, but in children, values around 0 to 10 mm/hr are often considered typical, although this can depend on the method used for testing. An ESR of 18 mm/hr indicates a higher level of inflammation that may suggest a potential complication, such as an infection or an inflammatory response related to the surgical procedure. Since the child is one week post-operative from an open fracture repair, this finding is particularly concerning as it may indicate ongoing inflammation, which could be related to an infection at the surgical site or complications linked to the fracture itself.

In contrast, the other lab results are within normal ranges and do not typically indicate a complication. A WBC count of 6,200/mm3 is within the normal range for children and generally suggests there is no acute infection. Similarly, a C-reactive protein level of 1.4 mg/L is relatively low and does not indicate significant inflammation. Finally, a red blood cell count of 4.7 million/mm3 is also considered normal for a school-age child. Thus, these values do not point toward any complications, while the elevated ESR serves