Week 5, Neuro Flashcards
Neuro: general assessment categories/major considerations:
- Chief complaint
- Patient physical condition
- Pt ability to cooperate with assessment
- Pt may not be cognitively aware or have ability to communicate condition –> MS assessment can help us here
- Issues with brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are early signs of changes, disease, and injury
Use ________ method for subjective data/health hx
OLDCARTS
What is Dysarthria
difficulty speaking
what is dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
what is ataxia
defective muscular coordination (think alcohol intoxication)
-due to cerebellar dysfunction
Describe Decerebrate Posture:
extension posturing, deep tendon reflexes exaggerated.
pronated palms, clenched teeth, more serious than decorticate.
DeCORticate posture
Hands come to the CORE. Flexion towards midline
-clenched fists, legs adducted (toes point toward each other)
Memory: Immediate
few minutes before
Memory: recent
earlier that day
Memory: Remote
months or years ago
People lose remote memory LAST.
Paresis
partial or complete paralysis= CANNOT MOVE
Paresthesia:
Burning or tingling (nerve injury), feels like when your foot falls asleep
Proprioception:
Being aware of where we are (proprioceptors)
Clonus:
rhythmic, jerky, beat (r/t deep tendon reflex)
Orientation x 4 means
Oriented to Person, Place, Time, Situation
Questions for Orientation: Person
What’s your name?
Questions for Orientation: Place
Where are you?
Questions for Orientation:Time
what is the day of the week/month/year/season?
Questions for Orientation: Situation
what are you here? What brought you in today?
Speech deficit:
adjective that describes level of communication (slurred, delayed)
LOC:
Level of consciousness. Includes orientation, but also includes responsiveness
Fully conscious:
awake/alert x 4
Lethargy:
drowsy but awake, sluggish, needs engagement to stay awake
Obtunded:
Difficult to arouse, constantly going back out, needs constant stimulation; confused when awake
Stupor:
Arouses to virorous and continuous stimulation (usually requires pain); won’t usually verbalize or follow commands
Coma:
No purposeful response to anything you do to them
What does MMSE stand for and what does it score?
Mini Mental Status Exam, emotional and cognitive function; low score–> high score
What does the MMSE look for?
Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes
What does deep tendon reflexes measure?
Reflex arc
Name the reflex response scores
0= no response 1+ = diminished, low 2+ = average 3+ = brisker than average, possibly normal 4+ = hyperactive w/ clonus ALWAYS ABNORMAL
When would we do a Deep Tendon Reflex Assessment?
with spinal cord injuries
How do we do a DTR assessment: Triceps
patient’s arm should be flexed 90 degrees. Support the arm and strike it just above the elbow, between the epicondyles; the arm should extend at the elbow
How do we do a DTR assessment: Biceps
patient’s arm should be flexed slightly with the palm facing up. Hold arm with your thumb in the anticubital space over the biceps tendon. Strike your thumb with the hammer; the arm should flex slightly
How do we do a DTR assessment: Brachioradialis
patient’s arm should be flexed slightly resting on lap with palm facing up. Strike the outer forearm about two inches above the wrist; palm should turn upward as the forearm rotates laterally
How do we do a DTR assessment: Patellar
Pt leg should dangle, place hand on one thigh, strike leg just below kneecap; leg should extend at the knee
How do we do a DTR assessment: Achilles’ tendon reflex
pt foot slight dorsiflexion, lightly strike the back of the ankle, just above the heel. food should plantar flex