Health Encyclopedia

Decerebrate posture

Definition

Decerebrate posture is an abnormal body posture that involves rigid extension of the arms and legs, downward pointing of the toes, and backward arching of the head.

Considerations

A severe injury to the brain at the level of the brainstem is the usual cause of decerebrate posture.

Opisthotonos (a severe muscle spasm of the neck and back) may accompany decerebrate posture in severe cases.

Decerebrate posture can occur on one side, on both sides, or in just the arms. It may alternate with decorticate posture (abnormal posturing due to corticospinal tract injury), or a person can have decorticate posture on one side and decerebrate posture on the other.

Common Causes

Cerebral infarction (stroke)
Intracranial hemorrhage
Primary brain tumor
Secondary brain tumor
Encephalopathy
Head injury
Increased intracranial pressure from any cause
Brain stem tumor
Hepatic encephalopathy

Home Care

Conditions associated with decerebrate posture require immediate hospital treatment.

Call your health care provider if

Abnormal posturing of any sort usually goes along with reduced alertness. Anyone who has an abnormal posture should be examined promptly by the health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Emergency measures may begin immediately, including placement of an artificial airway (breathing tube) and assistance with breathing. You will likely be hospitalized in intensive care. Once you are stabilized, a medical history will be obtained from family members and a physical examination will be performed.

Medical history questions documenting decerebrate posture in detail may include:

When did this behavior start?
Is there a pattern to the occurrences?
Is it always the same type of posture?
Is there any significant medical history (such as a known head injury)?
What other symptoms preceded or accompanied the abnormal posturing?

The physical examination will include a complete neurological assessment.

Diagnostic testing may include:

Review Date:4/30/2007
Reviewed By:Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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