Which mineral deficiency would a nurse suspect in a client who reports tingling in the fingers and around the mouth and exhibits carpopedal spasm and tremors after a surgical thyroidectomy?

Which mineral deficiency would a nurse suspect in a client who reports tingling in the fingers and around the mouth and exhibits carpopedal spasm and tremors after a surgical thyroidectomy?

• A. Potassium
• B. Calcium
• C. Magnesium
• D. Sodium

Answer: (B)

Calcium deficiency is the best explanation. After thyroidectomy, the parathyroid glands can be injured or removed, lowering parathyroid hormone and causing hypocalcemia. Low calcium makes nerves and muscles hyperexcitable, leading to tingling around the mouth and in the fingers, along with tremors and the classic carpopedal spasm (tetany). This combination of perioral paresthesias and hand spasms is highly characteristic of hypocalcemia. Potassium deficiency can cause muscle cramps and weakness and may affect rhythm, but it doesn’t typically produce the perioral tingling and the specific hand-spasm pattern seen with low calcium. Magnesium deficiency can cause tremors and irritability, but the post-thyroidectomy context with tingling and tetany points more directly to calcium. Sodium issues usually present with confusion or seizures rather than these neuromuscular signs.

Calcium deficiency is the best explanation. After thyroidectomy, the parathyroid glands can be injured or removed, lowering parathyroid hormone and causing hypocalcemia. Low calcium makes nerves and muscles hyperexcitable, leading to tingling around the mouth and in the fingers, along with tremors and the classic carpopedal spasm (tetany). This combination of perioral paresthesias and hand spasms is highly characteristic of hypocalcemia.

Potassium deficiency can cause muscle cramps and weakness and may affect rhythm, but it doesn’t typically produce the perioral tingling and the specific hand-spasm pattern seen with low calcium. Magnesium deficiency can cause tremors and irritability, but the post-thyroidectomy context with tingling and tetany points more directly to calcium. Sodium issues usually present with confusion or seizures rather than these neuromuscular signs.