During an Assessment of a 32-Year-Old Patient with a Recent

Multiple Choice

During an assessment of a 32-year-old patient with a recent head injury, the nurse notices that the patient responds to pain by extending, adducting, and internally rotating his arms. His palms pronate, and his lower extremities extend with plantar flexion. Which statement concerning these findings is most accurate? What do these findings indicate?

A) A lesion of the cerebral cortex
B) A completely nonfunctional brainstem
C) Normal findings that will resolve in 24 to 48 hours
D) A very ominous sign and may indicate brainstem injury