Central Nervous system - movement disorder ( ataxia, vertigo, parkinson etc) Flashcards
define ATAXIA
- lack of smooth and intensional movement
- symptom of particular disease process
- divided into 2 types
1) Motor cerebellar ataxia
2) Sensory Ataxia
What is motor cerebellar ataxia
Disorder of Cerebellum
(problem with the intergration of propioception signal - NB pathways are fine)
- lesion is ipsilateral
a) lateral cerebelar lesion
- cause limb incoordination
b) Midline cerebellar lesion
- Axial co-ordination problem less common ( may affect internal capsule, thalamic nucleus, frontal lobe)
What is sensory cerebellar ataxia
Failure of transmission of propioception to CNS via Peripheral Nerve
( Dorsal column or cerebellar input)
What are the causes of Ataxia
- Drug intoxication - ethanol, dilantin
- Metabolic - hyponatremia
- Peripheral Nerve - Alcohol peripheral neuropathy
- Vestibulopathy - meneiere disease
- Cerebellar disorder - infarction, mass, degeneration
- Posterior Column disorder - Vit B12 deficiency
What are the clinical presentations for ataxia
- difficulty ambulating - weakness and falls
- worsen with loss of visual input ( More Sensory ataxia)
- Cerebellar gait - wide space with unsteady irregular step
What is dysmetria
inacurate fine movement
What is Dysdiadokinesia
Clumpsy rapid movement
Dyssynergia
breakdown of movements into parts( Jacksonian movement)
Romberg test
- unsteady with eyes open - cerebellar pathology
- unsteady with eyes close - Sensory ataxia
What is true vertigo
illusion of movemet of the environment
What are the 3 main areas of the vestibular system that can be involved
1) Otological disease - of middle or inner ear
2) Vestibular nerve or end organ alone
3) Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem
With the otological cause, vertigo is associated with what clinical features
- hearing loss
- tinnitus
- ear discharge
- otalgia
- fullness or blockage
Vestibular nerve or endorgan alone
Present with vertigo alone
With regard to vestibular nuclei lesion - vertigo is associated with what clinical features?
- loss of consciousness
- diplopia
- other visual disturbance
- paraesthesiae
- limb paresis or weakness
- dysarthria
- dysphagia
What are important test during examination that can assist with the diagnosis of vertigo
1) Test of hearing
2) Webber and Rhinne test ( tuning fork)
3) Features of nystagmus
4) Examine cranial nerves and cerebellar function - Rhomberg tests