5- Neurology (Emergencies: Acute bulbar palsy, temporal arteritis, head trauma, status epilepticus) Flashcards
Acute bulbar palsy
Background
- Set of sign an symptoms linked to the impaired function of lower cranial nerves
- Damage to either:
o The LMN (neurones that connect the CNS (brain and spinal cord) to the muscles they innervate
o To the lower cranial nerves (9,10,11,12)
which cranial nerves are affected in acute bulbar palsy
Cranial nerves affected are those that arise straight from the brainstem
- CN IX (9) - glossopharyngeal
- CN X (10)- vagus
- CN XI (11)- accessory
- CN XII (12)- hypoglossal
how is acute bulbar palsy related to pseudobulbar palsy
Due to damage of UMN
- Similar presentation
- Atypical expression of emotion e.g. unusual outbursts of laughing or crying- lability
- Spastic and pointed tongue
- Exaggerated jaw jerk
- Can be classified as progressive (escalation of symptoms over time)or non progressive (rare)
causes of acute bulbar palsy
Causes
- Brainstem stroke
- Brainstem tumour
- Degenerative disease
o Motor neurone disease - Autoimmune conditions
o Guillain-Barre syndrome - Infection
o Diphtheria
o Poliomyelitis
Presentation of acute bulbar palsy
Wide variety of symptoms dependent on which CN is damaged
- Glossopharyngeal – reduced salivation, dysphagia and absent gag reflex
Other signs and symptoms associated with other CNS
- Chewing
- Nasal regurgitation
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty in handling secretions
- Aspiration of secretions
- Dysphonia
- Dysarthria
- Nasal speech which lacks modulation
- Difficult with all consonants
- Atrophic (wasting tongue)
- Drooling
- Weakness or jac and facial muscles
- Absent jaw jerk
Investigations for acute bulbar palsy
- Lumbar puncture to rule out MS
- MRI to diagnose stroke or tumour
management of acute bulbar palsy
- No treatment
- Intubation if airway obstruction
- Supportive treatment
o E.g. medication for drooling
o Feeding tubes
o SALT
summary of acute bulbar palsy
basilar skull fracture background
Skull base (Basilar) fractures
Background
- Traumatic head injury
- Fracture in base of skull e.g. around the foramen magnum (hole in the base of the skull where brains stem exits)
define basilar fracture
Defined as a fracture of one or more bones at the base of the skill (temporal occipital sphenoid frontal or ethmoid bones)
- Complex structure that forms the floor of the cranial cavity and separates the brain from the head and neck
- Composed of the temporal, occipital, sphenoid, frontal and ethmoid bones
- These bones have numerous foramina’s, that allow cranial nerves and blood vessels to pass from one region to another
basilar fractues are classified based on
- Based on location of fracture
o Anterior fossa
o Middle fossa
o Posterior fossa
Causes/ risk factors of basilar skull fracture
- Facial fractures often occur
- High force injury e.g. motor vehicle
- Penetrating injuries
- Falls
- Assaults
2 main presentations of basilar skull fracture
battle sign
panda eyes
battle sign
Bruising mastoid process (behind ears)
panda eyes
o Bruising around eyes
o Blood behind the ear drum