17.2 Spinal Cord Lesions

Question 1

Syringomyelia

Answer 1

Cystic degeneration of the spinal cord that can arise with trauma or in association with Arnold-Chiari malformation

Question 2

Where does syringomeylia most oftenly occur?

Answer 2

C8-T1

Question 3

What are the symptoms of syringomyelia?

Answer 3

Loss of pain and temperature with a SPARING of fine touch and position sense in upper extremities

Question 4

What can happen if syringomyelia affects the lateral horn at T1?

Answer 4

Horner’s Syndrome

Question 5

Poliomyelitis

Answer 5

Damage to the anterior motor horn due to poliovirus infection

Question 6

How does poliomyelitis present?

Answer 6

Presents with LMN signs: flaccid paralysis, decreased reflexes, no Babinski sign, weakness with decreased tone and fasciculations

Question 7

Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease

Answer 7

Autosomal recessive inherited degeneration of anterior motor horn that presents as “floppy baby”

Question 8

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Answer 8

Degenerative disorder of the UMN and LMN due to anterior motor horn involvement an lateral corticospinal tract involvement

Question 9

How can you distinguish syringomyelia from ALS?

Answer 9

ALS has no loss of pain and temperature sensation

Question 10

Are most cases of ALS genetic or sporadic?

Answer 10

Sporadic

Question 11

What is a mutation that is associated with familial ALS?

Answer 11

Zinc-Copper Superoxide Dismutase Mutation

Question 12

Friedreich Ataxia

Answer 12

Degenerative disorder of cerebellum and spinal cord tracts

Question 13

How does Friedreich ataxia present?

Answer 13

Presents as ataxia with loss of vibratory sense and proprioception and weakness in the lower extremities

Question 14

What is the inheritance and mutation in Friedreich ataxia?

Answer 14

Autosomal recessive with an unstable GAA repeat in the frataxin gene

Question 15

What is Friedreich ataxia associated with?

Answer 15

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy