Neurological Assessment Flashcards
7 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Neurological Assessment flashcards as text
Central cord syndrome most commonly occurs in which patient population and mechanism?
Answer: Elderly patients with hyperextension injuries on a preexisting stenotic canal
Central cord syndrome is most common in older adults with cervical stenosis who sustain hyperextension injuries, resulting in greater motor loss in the upper extremities than lower.
A patient's GCS score was 14 at the scene but is now 10. The MOST appropriate nursing action is:
Answer: Notify the physician immediately of neurological deterioration
A drop of 2 or more points on the GCS represents clinically significant neurological deterioration requiring immediate physician notification.
Which reflex assessment is used to evaluate sacral sparing in a spinal cord injury patient?
Answer: Bulbocavernosus reflex
The bulbocavernosus reflex tests sacral arc (S3-S4) integrity; its presence after SCI indicates sacral sparing and a potentially incomplete injury.
A trauma patient is confused, agitated, and combative after a head injury. Before attributing this behavior to TBI alone, the nurse should first:
Answer: Rule out hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and hypotension as contributing causes
Hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and hypotension can all cause acute confusion and agitation, and must be excluded before attributing altered mental status solely to TBI.
The ASIA Impairment Scale grade 'B' indicates which level of spinal cord injury?
Answer: Incomplete: sensory but no motor function preserved below the neurological level
ASIA grade B is sensory incomplete: sensory function is preserved below the neurological level but no motor function is present below that level.
Which clinical sign indicates a basilar skull fracture involving the posterior fossa?
Answer: Battle's sign (retroauricular ecchymosis)
Battle's sign is retroauricular ecchymosis over the mastoid process, indicating a basilar skull fracture involving the petrous portion of the temporal bone.
During the secondary survey of a trauma patient, you note cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. The nurse should:
Answer: Allow drainage freely, do NOT pack, and notify the physician
CSF rhinorrhea should never be obstructed; free drainage reduces infection risk and packing can increase ICP; physician notification is mandatory.