Home Care:

The conditions that cause decorticate posture need to be treated in a hospital right away.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The person will receive emergency treatment right away. This includes getting a breathing tube and breathing assistance. The person will likely be admitted to the hospital and placed in intensive care.

After the condition is stable, the health care provider will get a medical history from family members and a more detailed physical examination will be done. This will include a careful examination of the nervous system.

Medical history questions may include:

• When did this behavior start?
• Is there a pattern to the postures?
• Is it always the same type of posture?
• Is there any history of a head injury or drug use?
• What other symptoms occurred before or with the abnormal posturing?

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood and urine tests to check blood counts, screen for drugs and toxic substances, and measure body chemicals and minerals
• Cerebral angiography (a dye and x-ray study of blood vessels in the brain)
• EEG (brain wave testing) orintracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring
• Head MRI or CT scan

The outlook depends on the cause of the posturing. There may be injury or damage to the brain or nervous system, which can leave the person with long-term problems such as:

• Coma
• Inability to communicate
• Paralysis
• Seizures