Spinal Cord Injury
It's used to assess level of consciousness (LOC).
What is GCS?
Medications used to reduce cerebral edema in brain injuries.
What is Mannitol & Decadron (dexamethasone)?
Neural tube defect more commonly seen in infants of obese, poorly controlled diabetics, or women taking anti-seizure medications.
What is spina bifida?
Define spondylosis.
What is degenerative changes of the discs in the spine?
Defect that tethers the spinal cord.
What is Arnold-Chiari Syndrome?
Cervical vertebrae most frequently involved in spinal cord injury (SCI).
What are C5, C6, C7?
Name nursing interventions for patients skeletal fracture.
What are promote adequate breathing and airway clearance, improve mobility (maintain proper body alignment), prevent injury due to sensory and perceptual alterations, maintain skin integrity, maintain urinary elimination, improve bowel function, provide comfort measures especially if devices are needed, recognize autonomic dysreflexia immobilization, monitor and manage potential complications, and provide a safe environment?
Three types of spina bifida.
What are spinal bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele?
Usual areas of occurrence in degenerative disc disease.
What are C-C6, C6-C7, L5-S1?
An abnormal lateral curving of the spine.
What is scoliosis?
Contributing factors for spinal cord injury.
What are spinal cord defects, physical (gunshot wounds, diving accidents, trauma), infection, and physiological (neoplasms, herniated disc)?
Medications (categories) often ordered for managing spinal cord/skull injuries. Name at least four.
What are IVF for hypotension, corticosteroids, vasopressors, antispasmodics, antiemetics, analgesics (NSAIDs), proton pump inhibitors, anticoagulants (if no contraindications), and stool softeners?
Interventions for myelomeningocele after surgical closure.
What is rehabilitation with an emphasis on growth and development needs?
Name at least four manifestations of lumbar degenerative disc disease.
What are intense pain and muscle spasms, paresthesia, radiculopathy, sciatica, postural deformity, motor and sensory deficits?
Involves opening the skull to gain access to the intracranial structures.
What is a craniotomy?
The four mechanisms of spinal cord injury (SCI).
What are hyperflexion, hyperextension, axial loading, and excessive rotation?
Determination that must be made first in assessing the patient with traumatic brain injury.
What is the presence of a patent airway?
Name at least four pre-op nursing interventions for planned spina bifida surgical repair.
What are maintain position off the lesion, maintain in a warm environment (isolette-no clothing), diaper below the lesion, keep lesion moist with sterile saline, cleanse and apply antimicrobial ointment as ordered, monitor for hydrocephaly, stimulation, and support the parents?
Name at least four clinical manifestations of cervical degenerative disc disease.
What are intense pain and muscle spasms, radiculopathy, paresthesia, stiff neck, decreased reflexes, unsteady gait, and urinary elimination problems?
Acute life-threatening emergency that occurs as a result of an exaggerated response to stimuli (uncontrolled discharge by the autonomic nervous system causing abrupt hypertension and other adaptations).
What is autonomic dysreflexia?
Nursing assessments, name at least four.
What are vital signs (especially temperature), motor/sensory function, reflexes, pain, respiratory, cardiac, abdominal (bladder/bowel function), and skin?
Hormone withdrawal responsible for accelerated loss of bone mass.
What is estrogen?
Name at least two post-op spina bifida repair nursing interventions.
What are monitor for hydrocephaly and meningitis, observe for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage, keep prone or side-lying, and parental support?
Diagnostics and treatment for degenerative disc disease.
What are (diagnostics) history & physical, pain assessment, x-rays, CT scans, EMG, myelogram, MRI and (treatments) surgery, physical therapy, pain medication, and promote normal activities?
Pounding headache, profuse diaphoresis, nausea, nasal congestion, bradycardia, blurred vision, flushing nasal stuffiness.
What are signs and symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia?