Buzzwords

Question 1

thunderclap headache?

Answer 1

Subarachnoid haemorrhage cf. PCKD

Question 2

Xanthochromic LP

Answer 2

SAH (cf fresh blood - traumatic tap)

Question 3

Lucid period after head trauma (often followed by sudden collapse or deterioration)?

Answer 3

Extradural haemorrhage

Question 4

Cogwheel rigidity?

Answer 4

Parkinson’s (spastity over rigidity)

Question 5

Woody texture muscle swelling?

Answer 5

Duchenne or Becker MD

Question 6

Raised CK?

Answer 6

MD

Question 7

Toe walker or positive gowers sign?

Answer 7

Muscular dystrophy

Question 8

Mask-like expression?

Answer 8

Parkinson’s

Question 9

“Fluctuating” cognitive deficit?

Answer 9

Lewy body dementia or Delerium

Question 10

REM disturbance?

Answer 10

Lewy body dementia or parkinson’s

Question 11

Vivid visual hallucinations normally of children and not threatening?

Answer 11

Lewy body dementia

Question 12

“Acute onset” cognitive disturbance that fluctuates?

Answer 12

Delerium

Question 13

Personality/behaviour changes and then dementia?

Answer 13

Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease)

Question 14

Memory and personality problems in someone with a history of cardiovascular disease?

Answer 14

Vascular dementia

Question 15

Stepwise deterioration?

Answer 15

Vascular dementia

Question 16

Pain on loud noise?

Answer 16

Facial nerve palsy

Question 17

Painful third nerve palsy?

Answer 17

Aneurysm

Question 18

Myalgia + myositis + myoglobulinaemia/uria?

Answer 18

Rhabdo (–> DIC and renal failure)

Question 19

Inflammatory myopathy with poor response to steroids?

Answer 19

Inclusion body myositis

Question 20

Weakness + frontal balding + cataracts + ptosis ?

Answer 20

Myotonic dystrophy (onset 30s, +ve FHx)

Question 21

Leg symptoms + midline shift?

Answer 21

Falcine herniation

Question 22

Back pain worse on coughing?

Answer 22

Slipped disc

Question 23

Headache worse on coughing?

Answer 23

Posterior fossa issue

Question 24

BL sciatica + male sexual dysfunction?

Answer 24

Cauda equina

Question 25

Pleocytosis on CSF?

Answer 25

Rules out bacterial meningitis

Question 26

Migraine prophylaxis 1st line?

Answer 26

Propranolol, topiramate or amitriptyline

Question 27

Migraine prophylaxis 2nd line?

Answer 27

Valproate, pizotifen, gabapenton, pregabalin (if one drug does not work by 3/12 try another)

Question 28

Injury upper brachial plexus?

Answer 28

Erbs palsy (waiters tip) - more common, associated with shoulder dystocia

Question 29

Injury lower brachial plexus?

Answer 29

Klumpke’s palsy (claw hand)

Question 30

+VE Simmonds test?

Answer 30

Achilles tendon rupture