SCI NCLEX Practice Questions {Questions With 100% Correct Answers} (2024 / 2025)(Verified by Experts)

Which condition is an indication for decompression surgery for a client with spinal cord injury? (Select all that apply.) Spinal nerve compression Facet dislocation Progressive neurologic deterioration Cervical fracture without major cord damage Spinal stabilization - ANSWER Spinal nerve compression Facet dislocation Progressive neurologic deterioration Spinal decompression surgery is most often performed in clients with progressive neurologic deterioration, facet dislocation (displacement of one vertebra on another), spinal nerve compression, and extradural lesions. The nurse admitting a client who was in a motor vehicle crash is concerned that the client has a spinal cord injury with spinal shock. Which assessment finding would cause this concern? (Select all that apply.) Hypertension Complete loss of sensation Flaccid paralysis Warm, flushed skin Urinary incontinence - ANSWER Complete loss of sensation Flaccid paralysis Urinary incontinence Flaccid paralysis is an expected finding during spinal shock. The client will develop spastic movements later as edema from the initial injury resolves. Complete loss of sensation is common during spinal shock. This loss occurs because of edema in the area of the injury. Some sensation may return as the edema resolves. Low blood pressure occurs during spinal shock caused by lack of vasoconstriction needed to maintain blood pressure. This lack occurs because of damage to the nerve supply to the peripheral blood vessels. Incontinence occurs because of damage to the nerves that supply the bladder. This may or may not be permanent depending on the extent of the damage. Spinal shock causes an inability to regulate body temperature. The client's body will assume a temperature similar to the temperature of the environment. The client's skin would not be warm and flushed because of poor perfusion and low blood pressure during spinal shock The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with a sensory incomplete spinal cord injury. The client asks the nurse to explain the injury. Which explanation should the nurse give? Only motor function will be present below the level of the injury. No sensory or motor function will be present below the level of injury. Only half of the muscles below the level of injury will function. Only sensory function will be present below the level of the injury. - ANSWER Only sensory function will be present below the level of the injury. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). A = Complete: No sensory or motor function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5. B = Sensory incomplete: Sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurologic level and includes the sacral segments S4-S5 (light touch, pin prick at S4-S5, or deep anal pressure), AND no motor function is preserved more than three levels below the motor level on either side of the body. C = Motor incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurologic level, and more than half of key muscle functions below the single neurologic level of injury (NLI) have a muscle grade of 3 (grades 0-2). D = Motor incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurologic level, and at least half of key muscle functions below the NLI have a muscle grade ≥3. E = Normal: If sensation and motor function as tested with the International Standards for Neurologic Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) exam are graded as normal in all segments, and the client had prior deficits, then the AIS grade is E. Someone without an initial spinal cord injury (SCI) does not receive an AIS grade. Next Question