Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 95%
Simulated
The nurse is performing a neurological assessment on a client with a history of Diabetes. When testing the ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork, the nurse notices that the client is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally, but is able to feel vibrations on both patellae. What should the nurse suspect from these assessments?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: Peripheral neuropathy. In Diabetes, peripheral neuropathy is a common complication affecting sensory nerves, leading to decreased ability to feel sensations like vibrations. In this case, the client's inability to feel vibrations on the great toe and ankle bilaterally but being able to feel them on the patellae indicates a distal sensory neuropathy affecting the lower extremities. Hyperalgesia (A) is increased sensitivity to pain, not related to vibration sensation. Hyperparalysis (C) is not a recognized medical term. Lesion of the sensory cortex (D) would present with more widespread sensory deficits rather than a specific pattern like in peripheral neuropathy.