Read This Excerpt from a Patient's Health Record: Hospital Course

question 58

Multiple Choice

Read this excerpt from a patient's health record: Hospital Course
Neuro: On admission exam, Decker was found to have mild lumbar lordosis, pseudohypertrophy of his calf muscles, and a waddling gait. He did not have any genu varum or genu valgus. No hyporeflexia was noted. The initial concern was a muscular dystrophy. Given a family history of polymyositis, that was considered as well. Decker's labs were consistent with muscular dystrophy. An electromyography showed myopathic changes. A muscle biopsy was then performed to help distinguish which of the muscular dystrophies the patient has. The results are pending.
CV: Cardiology was consulted, given the strong risk for developing cardiomyopathy.
Resp: No problems were seen throughout the hospital stay. Decker was educated in performing on breathing exercises and also about the respiratory problems often seen later on in the condition.
Ortho: Orthopedic surgery was consulted for Decker's scoliosis.
Social: Much of the hospital stay focused on patient education.
Which of the following is a symptom found in this patient?

• A) Abnormal forward curvature of the lower spine
• B) Bow-legged
• C) Decrease in muscle reflexes
• D) Knock-kneed
• E) Muscle inflammation