Exam 35: The Child with Neuromuscular or Muscular Dysfunction

A child, age 3 years, has cerebral palsy (CP) and is hospitalized for orthopedic surgery. His mother says he has difficulty swallowing and cannot hold a utensil to feed himself. He is slightly underweight for his height. What is the most appropriate nursing action related to feeding this child?

What refers to a hernial protrusion of a saclike cyst of meninges, spinal fluid, and a portion of the spinal cord with its nerves through a defect in the vertebral column?

What functional ability should the nurse expect in a child with a spinal cord lesion at C7?

A woman who is 6 weeks pregnant tells the nurse that she is worried that, even though she is taking folic acid supplements, the baby might have spina bifida because of a family history. The nurse's response should be based on what?

A 14-year-old girl is in the intensive care unit after a spinal cord injury 2 days ago. What nursing intervention is a priority for this child?

When a child develops latex allergy, which food may also cause an allergic reaction?

The nurse should suspect a child has cerebral palsy (CP) if the parent says what?

The nurse is preparing to admit a 5-year-old child with a lower motor neuron syndrome. What clinical manifestations of a lower motor neuron syndrome should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse is preparing to admit a 7-year-old child with ataxic cerebral palsy. What clinical manifestations of ataxic cerebral palsy should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)

An adolescent whose leg was crushed when she fell off a horse is admitted to the emergency department. She has completed the tetanus immunization series, receiving the last tetanus toxoid booster 8 years ago. What care is necessary for therapeutic management of this adolescent to prevent tetanus?

A 12-year-old child with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. She tells you that yesterday her legs were weak and that this morning she was unable to walk. After the nurse determines the current level of paralysis, which should the next priority assessment be?

Gingivitis is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy (CP). What preventive measure should be included in the plan of care?

What type of cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common type?

The nurse is caring for a child with tetanus during the acute phase. What should the nurse plan in the care for this child?

A 4-month-old with significant head lag meets the criteria for floppy infant syndrome. A diagnosis of progressive infantile spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease) is made. What should be included in the nursing care for this child?

The clinic nurse is assessing infant reflexes. What assessment indicates a persistence of primitive reflexes?

Neuropathic bladder disorders are common among children with which disorder?

An adolescent has just been brought to the emergency department with a spinal cord injury and paralysis from a diving accident. The parents keep asking the nurse, "How bad is it?" The nurse's response should be based on which knowledge?

The nurse is preparing to admit a 5-year-old with spina bifida cystica that was below the second lumbar vertebra. What clinical manifestations of spina bifida cystica below the second lumbar vertebra should the nurse expect to observe? (Select all that apply.)

What is the rationale for orthopedic surgery for a child with cerebral palsy?