The patient has sustained a complete spinal cord injury at the C3 level. The patient’s wife asks the nurse what his life will be like. Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate?

“Your husband will be paralyzed and will likely require mechanical ventilation, but he should be able to speak.”. A spinal cord injury at C3 likely results in tetraplegia and ventilator dependency. However, the individual should still be able to swallow and talk. Spinal cord injuries do not affect the individual’s ability to hear. The patient’s arms will be paralyzed since the injury is in the cervical region. Only Injuries at or below C4 will likely allow the individual to breath unsupported.

The patient has sustained a complete spinal cord injury at the C3...

Category: Physiological Adaptation
Difficulty: 5

Topics: Communication & Documentation Musculoskeletal Neurology

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