Question

A nurse is assessing deep tendon reflexes in a client who sustained a spinal cord injury 5 days ago. The nurse can elicit a mild response to a tap on the patella. Which is the nurse's interpretation of this finding? a. There is a gradual response of all the nerves and muscles.

b. It is too early to tell how extensive the injury is at this time.
c. The injury has resulted in only temporary spinal cord dysfunction.
d. The spinal shock phase of the injury is over.

Answer 1

The nurse's interpretation of the mild response to a tap on the patella in a client with a spinal cord injury is that the spinal shock phase is over.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's interpretation of the mild response to a tap on the patella in a client who sustained a spinal cord injury 5 days ago is that the spinal shock phase of the injury is over.

During the spinal shock phase, which typically lasts a few days to a few weeks after the injury, reflexes are temporarily absent or diminished.

As the spinal cord recovers, reflexes gradually return. In this case, the mild response indicates that the spinal shock phase is over and the reflexes are starting to gradually return.

This finding suggests that the injury has resulted in temporary spinal cord dysfunction and that there is potential for further recovery.