Assessment of Mental Status Abnormal Posturing
Decortication
is abnormal posturing seen in the client with lesions that interrupt the corticospinal pathways.
The client’s arms, wrists, and fingers are flexed with internal rotation and plantar flexion of the legs.
Decerebration
is abnormal posturing and rigidity characterized by extension of the client’s arms and legs, pronation of the arms, plantar flexion, and opisthotonos.
It is usually associated with dysfunction in the brain stem area.