Which assessment finding in a post-laminectomy patient would require immediate nursing intervention?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

New neurological deficits after spinal surgery indicate possible spinal cord or nerve root compression (for example from an epidural hematoma) and require immediate intervention.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Laminectomy relieves spinal cord/nerve compression but carries risk of postoperative epidural hematoma, swelling, or ischemia.  
- Acute signs of spinal cord or cauda equina compromise include new motor weakness, new sensory loss (numbness), severe new pain, and bowel/bladder dysfunction. These are surgical emergencies.  
- Postoperative vital-sign/urine changes can be significant but are often assessed in trend and context (e.g., oliguria thresholds, low-grade fever definitions).

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- Identify the red flags in the options: “new onset of leg weakness or numbness” is a new neurologic deficit.  
- New neurologic deficits after laminectomy suggest acute compression or compromise of neural elements and risk permanent deficit unless promptly addressed.  
- Immediate nursing actions: perform focused neuro exam (motor strength, sensation, reflexes), notify surgeon, maintain immobilization, prepare for emergent imaging (MRI) and possible return to OR.

3) Intermediate/quantitative considerations
- Urine output: oliguria is often defined as <0.5 mL/kg/hr (≈35 mL/hr for a 70 kg adult). “Decreased urine output over 4 hours” is nonspecific and requires assessment but typically prompts evaluation rather than immediate surgical intervention.  
- Fever: 37.6 °C is a low-grade postoperative temperature and not an emergency.  
- Mild back discomfort at the surgical site is expected post-op.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- “New onset of leg weakness or numbness” directly signals acute neurologic compromise that can progress rapidly; timely recognition and intervention (imaging and possible decompression) are essential to prevent permanent loss.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- Decreased urine output over 4 hours: concerning but nonspecific; requires monitoring and assessment of fluid status, catheter patency, labs—usually not immediate surgical emergency.  
- Low-grade fever (37.6 °C): common post-op; monitor and treat per protocol.  
- Mild back discomfort: expected postoperative finding.

6) Conclusion
The correct and urgent finding is New onset of leg weakness or numbness, which matches the provided answer.

Which assessment finding in a post-laminectomy patient would require immediate nursing intervention?多项选择题

类似问题

Question at position 8 An excess of growth hormone (GH) before puberty can result in the development ofgigantism.Graves' disease.acromegaly.pituitary dwarfism.Clear my selection

Question at position 6 The most abundant supporting cells in the central nervous system are called Question Blank 1 of 1[input].

Question at position 5 In the eye, the lens functions tofocus light on the retina at the back of the eye.protect the surface of the eye.increase vision in low-light conditions.move the eye side to side.Clear my selection

Question at position 4 Olfactory (odor) receptors are chemoreceptors. TrueFalse

If the pKa of HCHO2 is 3.74 and the pH of an HCHO2/NaCHO2 solution is 3.00, which of the following is TRUE?

Identify the missing particle in the following nuclear equation: 92 236 𝑈 → 38 90 𝑆 𝑟 + ? + 2 0 1 𝑛 + 4 0 0 𝑔

Which type of radioactivity will affect the mass of the isotope the least?

Determine the binding energy of an O-16 nucleus. The O-16 nucleus has a mass of 15.9905 amu. A proton has a mass of 1.00728 amu, a neutron has a mass of 1.008665 amu, and 1 amu is equivalent to 931 MeV of energy.

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单