After assessing a severely deformed knee with absent pedal pulse, what is the priority action?

When dealing with a severely deformed knee and absent pedal pulse, the priority action is to restore blood flow to the extremity. Attempting to straighten the leg can help to realign any dislocated bones or pressure placed on blood vessels that may be impairing circulation. If blood flow returns after realigning the limb, this indicates that intervention was successful in relieving the compression. Quick restoration of circulation is vital as prolonged absence of blood flow can lead to tissue damage.

Other actions, while important in the overall management of a patient with such an injury, do not take precedence over addressing the immediate issue of circulation. Applying a splint could stabilize the injury but would not resolve the critical issue of the absent pulse if the underlying cause is related to misalignment. Calling for advanced medical intervention is necessary as well, but it should come after attempting to address the immediate concern of restoring blood flow. Lastly, performing a rapid head-to-toe assessment may be crucial for identifying other injuries, but in the face of a potentially life-threatening condition like absent perfusion, immediate intervention is more important.