The nurse is caring for a patient with an acute head injury.
Which assessment finding would first alert the nurse that the patient is developing an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP)?

Choice A rationale

Fluid intake does not directly impact intraocular pressure. Management of glaucoma focuses on medications like eye drops and surgical interventions rather than restricting fluid intake.

Choice B rationale

Glaucoma treatments, including eye drops, aim to manage intraocular pressure. These medications are required lifelong to prevent optic nerve damage and preserve vision.

Choice C rationale

Excess salt impacts systemic blood pressure but does not directly influence intraocular pressure. Glaucoma management targets ocular pressure, not dietary sodium reduction.

Choice D rationale

Avoiding eye overuse may reduce strain but does not address intraocular pressure. Effective glaucoma treatment relies on pharmacological or surgical measures rather than activity limitation.

Choice A rationale

Brown-Sequard injury results in ipsilateral motor function loss due to corticospinal tract damage and contralateral pain/temperature loss from spinothalamic tract disruption, characteristic of this hemisection spinal cord injury.

Choice B rationale

Central cord injury affects cervical spine and hand function but does not exhibit hemisection symptoms like ipsilateral motor loss or contralateral sensory loss. Symptoms vary and commonly include upper limb weakness.

Choice C rationale

Posterior cord injury primarily impacts dorsal column function, resulting in loss of proprioception and vibration sense. Motor and pain/temperature functions are preserved, unlike in Brown-Sequard injury.

Choice D rationale

Anterior cord injury involves ischemic damage to the anterior spinal artery, leading to motor paralysis and pain/temperature loss bilaterally, not ipsilateral and contralateral as described in the question.