Author Question: A 59-year-old patient has a herniated intervertebral disk. Which of the following findings should ... (Read 36 times)

fahad · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

A 59-year-old patient has a herniated intervertebral disk. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to see on physical assessment of this individual?

a. Hyporeflexia
b. Increased muscle tone
c. Positive Babinski sign
d. Presence of pathologic reflexes

Question 2

A 78-year-old man has a history of a cerebrovascular accident. The nurse notes that when he walks, his left arm is immobile against the body with flexion of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers and adduction of the shoulder.

His left leg is stiff and extended and circumducts with each step. What type of gait disturbance is this individual experiencing?
a.
Scissors gait
b.
Cerebellar ataxia
c.
Parkinsonian gait
d.
Spastic hemiparesis

cclemon1 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
With a herniated intervertebral disk or lower motor neuron lesion, loss of tone, flaccidity, atrophy, fasciculations, and hyporeflexia or areflexia are demonstrated. No Babinski sign or pathologic reflexes would be observed.The other options reflect a lesion of upper motor neurons.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
With spastic hemiparesis, the arm is immobile against the body. Flexion of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers occurs, and adduction of the shoulder, which does not swing freely, is observed. The leg is stiff and extended and circumducts with each step. Causes of this type of gait include cerebrovascular accident.