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    Ati Pediatrics Cumulative Proctored Exam Coker U Bsn
    Select All That Apply

    A nurse is providing teaching to the guardian of an infant diagnosed with cerebral palsy about possible causes. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in their teaching? Select all that apply.

    Explanation & Rationale

    Analyzing cerebral palsy causes involves understanding non-progressive brain injury occurring during fetal or neonatal development. Knowledge of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal insults, including hypoxia, trauma, and gestational age, is required to identify the multifactorial etiology of this motor disability. Choice A rationale Cerebral palsy is defined as a permanent disorder of movement and posture caused by non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. It is not primarily a muscle disorder or caused by genetic muscular dystrophies or myopathies. Choice B rationale Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy involves a lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain, leading to neuronal death. Such insults during fetal development or the peripartum period are significant contributors to the neurological damage that manifests as cerebral palsy. Choice C rationale While maternal nutrition is vital for overall health, a poor diet is not recognized as a direct cause of cerebral palsy. The condition results from specific neurological injuries rather than general nutritional deficiencies during the gestational period. Choice D rationale Physical trauma during the birthing process can lead to intracranial hemorrhage or brain injury. Such mechanical insults are documented risk factors that can damage the developing motor cortex, potentially resulting in the permanent motor impairments of cerebral palsy. Choice E rationale Premature infants, particularly those born before thirty-two weeks, have fragile cerebral blood vessels. They are at high risk for intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia, which are leading causes of brain damage resulting in various cerebral palsy types.

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