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Nursing Interventions in Performing a Neurological Exam
Connie Barbour, MSN, RN
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Objectives
1. Identify normal and abnormal findings in the neurological system.
2. Inspect and palpate the neurological system for variations of normal.
3. Identify cranial nerves and their interpretation.
4. Demonstrate various methods of evaluating sensory function.
5. Evaluate motor function and muscle tone in clients.
6. Evaluate reflexes and be able to interpret findings.
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Review of Anatomy & Physiology
Cerebrum – sensory/motor function
Frontal Lobe – voluntary motor activities, smell, memory, judgment, affect, personality
Parietal Lobe - speech, high level sensory function
Occipital Lobe – vision, memory
www.medical-look.com/.../organs/Cerebrum.html
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Review of Anatomy & Physiology Cont.
Thalamus – Relays sensory input of taste, vision, and hearing to the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus - Regulates temp., sleep, food & water consumption; ADH, TSH & growth hormone secretion
Brain Stem – origin of cranial nerves (pons, medulla oblongata, and midbrain)
Cerebellum – balance, voluntary movement and posture
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/NIA_human_brain_drawing.jpg
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General Goals of Assessment
Assessment of expected normal values
Establish baseline assessment Early identification of abnormal
finding
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Preparation
Setting up the room Well lit environment Comfortable environment Provide privacy/draping
Setting up equipment Use of cue card Set up equipment in order of use Ensure equipment is in working order
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Principles of Organization
Non-invasive to invasive
Head to toe
Front to back
Side to side
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Important Points
Safety of Client
Need for Universal Precautions
Be aware of how culture may
influence exam
Gerontological adjustments
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Introduction
Introduce self by Name & School
Call Client by respectful name
Explain purpose of exam
Make a statement about concerns/questions
Ask questions about client’s history of
complaints > COLDSPA
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COLDSPA
Character
Onset
Location
Duration
Severity
Pattern
Associated Factors
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Examination
General Survey
Central Nervous System
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Peripheral Nervous System
Cranial Nerves
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Subjective Data
Health History History of Present Illness (HPI)▪ Use COLDSPA
Past Health History▪ Surgery, trauma, illness
Family History▪ Some disease processes may be familial or
genetic Lifestyle and health practices▪ Diet, environmental exposures, work
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Additional Questions?
difficulty swallowing
difficulty with head and neck
gait and balance
pain in lower back
muscle weakness or unusual muscle
activity
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Objective Data / Assessment
Peripheral Nervous System Cranial Nerves (12) Spinal Nerves (31)
Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic nervous system▪ “fight or flight”
Parasympathetic Nervous System▪ Rest and restore
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Assessment
LOC & Use of Glasgow Coma Scale (p.86, Table 4-2)
Eye Opening Response Verbal Response Integral Motor Response
Annotated mini-mental state examination (p82, figure 4-5)Note general appearance, affect,
speech content, memory, logic, & speech patterns during the history & physical exam
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GLASCOW
COMA
SCALE
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Terms to Define Level of Consciousness
• Lethargy – drowsy, listless• Obtunded – decreased level of
consciousness, but responds to stimulation
• Stupor – senses are dulled to environment, senses dulled to all but deep painful stimulation
• Coma – a deep state of unconsciousness marked by the absence of spontaneous eye movement, no response to painful stimuli, no vocalization
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Mini Mental State Exam
Thought Processes
Long Term Memory
Short Term Memory
Reality Orientation
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Charting Example
Alert & Oriented X 3. Affect appropriate. Responds easily to questions. Able to follow directions. Speech clear without slur or stutter. Short & Long Term memory intact.
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Cranial Nerves
www.pennhealth.com/.../images/cranial_nerves.jpg
1. Olfactory (sensory) 2. Optic (sensory) 3. Oculomotor (motor) 4. Troclear (motor) 5. Trigeminal (sensory/motor) 6. Abducens (motor) 7. Facial (sensory/motor) 8. Vestibulocochlear/Acoustic
(sensory) 9. Glossopharangeal
(sensory/motor) 10. Vagus (sensory/motor) 11. Spinal accessory (motor) 12. Hypoglossal (motor)
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Cranial Nerve Article
Cranial Nerve Article with face diagram
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Cranial Nerve (I) Olfactory
Sensory Carries smell impulses from nasal
mucous membrane to brain Have patient clear nose, close eyes
& occlude one nostril Have patient ID aroma: vanilla,
coffee or soap Repeat with other nostril
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Cranial Nerve (II) Optic
Sensory controls central and peripheral vision
Assessed distant vision by using Snellen chart to determine visual acuity Normal = 20/20
Color Vision Near Vision tested by having patient
reading written material Normal – distance of 12-14 inches
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Cranial Nerve II Optic
Abnormal
Amblyopia “lazy eye”
Myopia “near sighted”
Presbyopia – normal changes with age
Hyperopia “far-sighted”
Confrontation – to assess peripheral
vision/visual fields
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Cranial Nerve (III) Oculomotor
Motor – tests also assess CN IV & VI (trochlear & abducens)!
Contracts eye lid, eye muscles & “pupil” Assess: absence of ptosis, pupillary
response Convergence Accommodation – PERRLA is the documentation
for a normal response in 2 tests. Distant to Near vision, and Indirect pupillary light reflex
[Corneal Light Reflex -In a person with normal ocular alignment the light lands on the center of both corneas
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Pupillary Responses
Size of 2-6 mm = normal (ave 3.5
mm)
infancy quite small
childhood and early adult largest
25% of people have a slight
difference in size
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Cranial Nerve III, IV & VI
6 Cardinal Fields of Gaze, Extraocular movement
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Cardinal Fields of Gaze cont..
Cranial Nerves (III), (IV) & (VI) Normal Finding – able to follow
pointer without moving head Abnormal Finding – Unable to follow
pointer, or nystagmus
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Cranial Nerve (V) Trigeminal
Sensory & Motor Carries sensory impulses of pain,
touch, and temperature from the face to the brain.
Influences clenching and lateral jaw movements (chewing and biting)
Assess: corneal reflex, clench teeth & move jaw (TMJ)
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Corneal Reflex
Corneal reflex Should blink immediately
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ASSESSMENT OF CN-5 TRIGEMINALTrigeminal Cranial Nerve Assessment (Temporal & Masseter muscles palpated with jaws clenched)
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Cranial Nerve (VII) Facial
Motor/Sensory Innervates facial muscles
(expressions) Smile, frown, puffs cheeks, close eyes,
show teeth Contains senses for taste in the
anterior 2/3 of tongue, stimulates secretions and tears
Assess symmetry of face, taste Bell’s Palsy
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ASSESSMENT CN-7 FACIALFacial CN (VII) Assessment
Assess: Smile Frown Puff out cheeks Wrinkle forehead Show teeth
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Cranial Nerve (VIII) Acoustic Also called vestibulocochlear Sensory
Hearing & balance Assess by performing hearing tests
Whisper (p 310 - Mosby) Weber (p 311 - Mosby) – lateralization of
hearing Rinne (p 311 - Mosby) – Air to Bone
conduction▪ AC 2 x BC
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Cranial Nerve (IX) Glossopharyngeal
Sensory Contains sensory fibers for taste on
posterior 1/3 of tongue Sensors for gag reflex Promotes swallowing movements Contains secretory fibers for parotid
glands ASSESSED TOGETHER WITH CN X
(VAGUS)
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Cranial Nerve (X) Vagus
Sensory/Motor (S) Carries sensations from throat, larynx,
heart , lungs, bronchi, GI tract, and abdominal viscera
(M) Promotes swallowing, talking and production of digestive juices
ASSESS TOGETHER WITH CN IX Have patient say “ah”
(soft palate & uvula should elevate to midline) Patient able to talk without hoarseness Able to swallow Elicit “gag reflex”
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Cranial Nerve (XI) Spinal Accessory
Motor Innervates neck muscles Movement of shoulders, head
rotation, and some larynx movement Assess:
Having patient shrug shoulders against resistance
Turn head against resistance▪ You are actually assessing muscle strength at
the same time which is part of the head and neck assessment
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Cranial Nerve (XII) Hypoglossal
Motor Innervates tongue to assist with
movement of food and talking Assess:
stick out tongue midlinemove side to side
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Sensory Function Superficial sensation
Touch (cotton) Pain (pin) (Heat/Cold = omitted if pain intact)
Deep sensation Vibration Position (proprioception)
Discriminative sensation 2-point discrimination (1point-2point) Stereognosis (familiar object) Graphesthesia (draw number)
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Cerebellum
Assess balance and coordination by: Gait Walk the Line (Heel to toe), then heels, then toes. Romberg test▪ Arms by side, standing – will have very little movement even
with closed eyes for 20 seconds
Pronator drift▪ Standing with eyes closed—hold arms out in front of you with palms up.
Then tap the palms of the hands . If OK, Pt will hold balance. If not OK pt will be unable to hold their balance.
Tandem balance▪ 1 foot without losing balance (5 seconds) then hop x1
Finger to nose Rapid alternating movement/Finger-thumb
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Motor Function Injury to almost any part of the
nervous system affects the patients ability to move in some way.
Changes give clues as to possible damage location.
System Assessment for Tone Strength
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ASSESSMENT OF MOTOR SYSTEM
Examples of some coordination tests
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Muscle Tone
Feel for muscle resistance increased (hyper > spasticity or
rigidity) or decreased (hypo > flaccidity)
Note whether upper or lower neurons Chapter 22, page 728
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Muscle strength
Range
0 none/paralysis1+ no movement/flicker of contraction felt2+ full passive ROM only, severe weakness3+ full ROM against gravity only, can’t overcome resistance, moderately weak4+ slight weakness, full ROM against gravity & some resistance5+ normal/full ROM against gravity & resistance
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Muscle Strength
(neck & shoulder already assessed with CN XI)
biceps (flexion) triceps (extension) hand grip quads - thigh lift shin kick (leg extension) plantar flexion & dorsiflexion (ankles)
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Reflexes
Grading
0 no response 1+ diminished/sluggish/minimal 2+ average/expected/active/(normal) 3+ more brisk than expected or average 4+ very brisk and hyperactive with clonus
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Reflex Assessment
BICEPS PATELLAR ACHILLES
EXAMPLES OF MAJOR DEEP TENDON REFLEXES
TRICEPS
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BRACHIORADIALIS
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Babinski reflex
POSITIVE RESPONSE
Dorsiflexion of great toe with fanning of remaining toes
The presence of this sign is normal in children under 2 years old
If positive in an adult it is a sign of damage to the central nervous system
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