Question

Decerebrate posture is documented in the chart of the patient that the nurse will be caring for. The nurse should know that the patient may have elevated ICP causing serious disruption of motor fibers in the midbrain and brainstem and will expect the patient's posture to look like which posture represented below?

A. Hands together on chest
B. Hands turned out at sides
C. Hne hand on chest one turned out at sides
D. Hands at side with back arched

Answer 1

Answer: D. Hands at side with back arched

Answer 2

Decerebrate posture is characterized by rigid extension of the extremities, specifically with arms pronated and extended and legs stiffly extended, indicating significant neurological damage to the midbrain and brainstem.

Step-by-step explanation:

Decerebrate posture indicates a severe neurological injury that involves the midbrain and brainstem. It can be associated with conditions causing elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), significant brain trauma, or various other brain injuries. In decerebrate posture, the patient exhibits rigid extension of the extremities, with the arms being pronated and extended, and the legs being stiffly extended at the knee with plantar flexion of the feet. This is commonly a result of damage to the upper brainstem and disruption of motor fibers. In the options provided, B. Hands turned out at sides best illustrates the position associated with decerebrate posture, although it typically implies a more severe extended and pronated arm position, rather than a simple lateral rotation at the shoulder.