Decorticate Posturing Brain
In herniation syndrome which is indicative of brain herniation decorticate posturing occurs and if the condition is left untreated develops into decerebrate posturing.
Decorticate posturing brain. Criteria for establishing brain death bd require absence of all brainstem mediated reflexes including motor ie decerebrate or decorticate posturing. This abnormal posturing makes a person suffer from clenched fists bent arms and legs that are held out straight. This is a type of flexed posturing and can indicate damage to the cerebral hemispheres.
Brain herniation is an extremely dangerous condition in which parts of the brain are pushed past hard structures within the skull. Decorticate posturing is also called decorticate response decorticate rigidity flexor posturing or colloquially mummy baby. These two types of posturing are abnormal and are associated with a brain injury.
Decorticate posture is stiff with legs held out straight fists. Decorticate posturing is a type of abnormal or pathologic posturing not to be mistaken with poor posture or slouching. Decorticate and decerebrate posturing are both considered pathological posturing responses to usually noxious stimuli from an external or internal source.
Decorticate posturing is a sign of severe damage in the brain injury such as damage in the cerebral hemispheres the internal capsule and the thalamus 2. Decorticate posturing a sign of severe damage to the brain is a specific type of involuntary abnormal posturing of a person. Decorticate posturing is a sign of damage to the nerve pathway between the brain and spinal cord.
Abnormal posturing is often an indication of certain types of injury to the brain or spinal cord. Both involve stereotypical movements of the trunk and extremities and are typically indicative of significant brain or spinal injury. A number of spinal cord automatisms may emerge after bd but occurrence of decerebrate like spinal reflexes may be particularly problematic.
Confusion of such stereotypic extension pronation movements with brain stem reflexes may confound or delay definitive diagnosis of bd. Decerebrate and decorticate posturing rigidity nclex review with mnemonic and pictures on how to tell the difference between the two conditions decorticate v. However this is not as serious as decerebrate posture wherein the particular kind of posturing appears on both sides of one s body.