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brain and spinal cord injury
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What is the difference between decerebrate and decorticate posturing?
In decerebrate posturing (extensor) rigidity, all four limbs are extended and the hands are pronated. In decorticate (flexor) rigidity, the arms, wrists, and fingers are flexed.
Which is worse-decorticate or decerebate posturing?
Decerebrate posturing is worse. Both are primitive behavior responses to brain injury. In Decorticate posturing, the hands or arms are posturing towards the spine (inward), which is a primitive protective response. In Decerebrate posturing the hands are directed away from the body or spine, which is no attempt to guard the body at all. Usually Decerebrate posturing indicates more extensive brain damage.
Which is worse decorticate or decerebate posturing?
Decerebrate posture is generally considered worse. Decerebrate posturing is characterized by adduction, internal rotation, and extension of the arms with the writs pronated and the fingers flexed. The legs are stiffly extended and the feet are in plantar flexion. Sometimes, in more severe cases, the back may be arched. This posture indicates damage damage to the upper brain stem, which could result from direct injury, or primary lesions like infarction, hemorrhage, or tumor; or other causes. Decorticate posture is characterized by adduction AND flexion of the arms (in decerebrate the arms are straight, and the wrists and fingers are flexed on the chest, seeming to mimic a protective position. The legs are extended and internally rotated (feet turned inward toward each other), and the feet are in plantar flexion. This can occur on only one side or both sides. This position usually results from a head injury or a stroke and it indicates corticopsinal damage, which means the nerves that carry impulses from the cerebral cortex to the brain are damaged. It is very serious, but it generally has a more favorable prognosis than decerebrate posturing. However, it is possible for decorticate posturing to progress to decerebrate posture if the damage is near enough the brain stem.
If decorticate posturing is present the lesion is?
Anatomic location of the lesion would be below the cortex, in the white matter or the cerebral hemispheres or upper part of the brain stem.
What is decerebrate?
Decerebrate is a primitive behavior response to noxious stimuli in a brain injury, comatosed patient.
Decerebrate posture?
DefinitionDecerebrate posture is an abnormal body posture that involves the arms and legs being held straight out, the toes being pointed downward, and the head and neck being arched backwards. The muscles are tightened and held rigidly. This type of posturing usually means there has been severe damage to the brain.ConsiderationsA severe injury to the brain at the level of the brainstem is the usual cause of decerebrate posture.Opisthotonos (a severe muscle spasm of the neck and back) may accompany decerebrate posture in severe cases.Decerebrate posture can occur on one side, on both sides, or in just the arms. It may alternate with decorticate posture(abnormal posturing due to corticospinal tract injury), or a person can have decorticate posture on one side and decerebrate posture on the other.Common CausesCerebral infarction (stroke)Bleeding in the brain from any cause (Intracranial hemorrhage)Primary brain tumorSecondary brain tumorEncephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to drugs, poisoning, or infection)Head injuryIncreased pressure in the brain from any causeBrain stem tumorHepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction due to liver failure)Home CareConditions associated with decerebrate posture require immediate hospital treatment.Call your health care provider ifAbnormal posturing of any sort is usually associated with reduced level of consciousness (alertness). Anyone who has an abnormal posture should be examined promptly by a health care provider.What to expect at your health care provider's officeEmergency measures may begin immediately. This includes breathing assistance and placement of a breathing tube. The person will likely be admitted to the hospital and placed in intensive care.Once the person is stabilized, the health care provider will perform a more extensive physical exam. The physical exam will include a complete neurological assessment.Family members will be asked questions about the person's medical history, including:When did this behavior start?Is there a pattern to the occurrences?Is it always the same type of posture?Is there any significant medical history (such as a known head injury)?What other symptoms preceded or accompanied the abnormal posturing?Diagnostic testing may include:Blood tests to check blood counts, measure body chemicals and minerals, and to screen for drugs and toxic substancesCerebral angiographyCT or MRI of the headEEGICP monitoringThe outlook depends on the cause. Permanent brain damage may often result, leading to long-term neurologic deficits such as coma, inability to communicate, paralysis, or seizures.
When the extremities are stiff and rigid what kind of posturing is it?
Rigor mortis is dead stiff body, not really called posturing.
All the words that begin with dec?
Decagon-A triangle with 10 side Decade-10 years Decagram-10 grams Since it is a prefix, you can add deca to a lot of words and it will always be 10 (units) of whatever that word is.
What does posturing mean in schizophrenia?
Standing
What is attitudinizing?
Attitudinizing is a show of excessive posturing.
What is cerebral posturing?
# # cerebral relates to cerebrum and posturing means to cause to assume a given posture....so you can make out what it means... samit subba, darjeeling....
Word that means the same as peel?
Skin, covering, husk, shell, skin, scale, decorticate, exfoliate, shave...
