Conditions + Diseases Flashcards
Common IONM Vocabulary
Facet Subluxation
Malalignment of opposing facets, allowing one cervical vertebral body to rotate around another.
Osteophyte
Bony excrescence or osseous outgrowth, usually found around the joint area of bone.
Otitis
Inflammation of the ear.
Vertigo
Hallucination that one is moving or their surrounding environment is moving. A symptom found in those with diseases of the labyrinth, vestibular nerve, or its nuclei in the brain stem.
Acoustic Reflex
Auditory/Facial nerve reflex arc that pulls the acoustic muscle tight, blocking hearing.
Muscular Dystrophy
A group of degenerative muscle disorders resulting in atrophy and weakness.
Tic Douloureaux (Trigeminal Neuralgia)
Compression of the trigeminal nerve by a vessel (usually SCA) causing attacks of severe facial pain.
Labyrinthine Disease
Malfunction of the inner ear characterized by deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.
Myelitis
Inflammation of the spinal cord.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
A type of rheumatoid arthritis disease causing spontaneous fusion of the spine. May also affect other large joints.
Osteopathy
Any disease of the bones.
Claudication
Inadequate blood flow to large muscle groups of lower limbs resulting from hardening of the arteries, causing pain, numbness, or heaviness in muscle groups. Triggered by exercise and relieved by rest.
Spondylo
Root disease.
Otalgia
Pain in the ear.
Myelopathy
Functional disturbances or pathological changes in the spinal cord.
Myelomenigocele
Protruding sac of the meninges, filled with fluid and possibly nerve root or spinal cord fibers via a defect in the spinal canal.
Osteoporosis
Diminution of both the mineral and matrix components of bone such that the remaining bone is normal in composition but reduced in total bone mass. The secondary cause of osteoporosis is immobilization such as casting. Primary osteoporosis is an age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and by increased susceptibility to fractures in the absence of other recognizable causes of bone loss.
Spondyloexarthrosis
Dislocation of a vertebra.
Luxation
Dislocation of bone or bones at a joint site.
Patellar Reflex
Normal monosynaptic sensorimotor reflex elicited by tapping the patellar tendon, causing contraction of the extensor muscles of the upper leg (kicking motion).
Pseudoarthrosis
False joints that result from non-union of a fracture or from a pathologic bone condition.
Spondylolysis
Disruption of the pars interarticularis (a portion of bone between each of the joints of the back), allowing one vertebral body to slide forward on the next.
Bell’s Palsy
Paralysis of the facial muscles due to facial nerve dysfunction.
Horner’s Syndrome
Sinking of the eyeball, ptosis of the upper eyelid, slight elevation of the lower lid constriction of the pupil, narrowing of the palpebral fissure, and anhidrosis and flushing of the affected side of the face. Caused by paralysis of the cervical sympathetic nerves.
Kyphosis
Excessive curvature of the thoracic spine.
Otitis Media
Acute infection of the middle ear cavity with the reddening and outward bulging of the eardrum, which may rupture.
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A mechanical problem related to the exit of arteries and nerves at the base of the neck leading down the arm, and can also involve the vein bringing blood back from the arm. Compression of these structures as they pass through a narrow foramen between the scalenus anticus muscle and the first rib. Early signs are pain in the hand or shoulder. Arteries may be damaged in the process and cause an aneurysm in the area with possible break off of blood clot.
Syringomyelia
Progressive cavitation within the central (usually cervical) spinal cord, resulting in segmental muscle weakness and loss of pain and temperature sensation.
Myasthenia Gravis
Syndrome of attacks of muscle weakness that are episodic and reversible. Also called Erb-Goldflam disease.
Osteoma
Hard tumor of bone-like structure developing on the bone. Benign tumor or spongy bone.
Lordosis
Excessive curvature of the lumbar spine.
Myesthenia Gravis
Muscle disorder involving the insufficient production of acetylcholinesterase resulting in weakened muscles.
Osteomyelitis
Inflammation of bone marrow, cortex, tissue, and periosteum. Can be caused by an organism, usually bacteria.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Lou Gerig’s disease. Progressive nervous disorder which attacks motor fibers, causing progressive paralysis.
Scoliosis
Lateral curvature of the spine.
Osteosarcoma
Sarcoma in which cancer cells make bone.
Presbycussis
Hearing loss with age, usually resulting in high frequency hearing loss.
Sensorineural Deafness
Impairment of the cochlea or cochlear branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve.
Spondylitis
Inflammation of vertebrae. Types include ankylosing, rheumatoid, tramatic, and spondylitis deformans.
Conduction Deafness
An impairment of the external and middle ear mechanism, including atherosclerosis (reduced blood supply due to obstruction of the arteries by plaque bodies).
Anastamosis
A connection made surgically between adjacent blood vessels, parts of the intestine, or other channels of the body, or the operation in which this is constructed
Proprioception
Your body’s ability to sense movement, action, and location in space. This information communicated by the dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway
Tinel’s Sign
Used for noting a partial lesion or beginning regeneration of a nerve. Tingling sensation of the distal end of a limb when percussion is made over the site of the divided nerve such as in carpal tunnel impingement of the median nerve of the hand. Also called formication sign or distal tingling on the percussion (DTP) sign.
Neuro exam: Tap on nerve»_space; paresthesia
Romberg Test
The tendency of a patient to fall when he closes his eyes standing still with his feet close together. Due to loss of joint position sensation, as with tabes dorsalis.
Neuro Exam: Close eyes»_space; push on back/chest»_space; falls over due to loss of proprioception
Babinski Sign
Loss of brain control over the lower extremities and loss or lessening of the Achilles tendon reflex in sciatica. Elicited by scraping the soles, causing the toes to pull up (dorsiflexion). It occurs in lesions of the pyramidal (corticospinal) tract.
Neuro exam: Sole of foot stroked»_space; toes fan out»_space; upper motor lesion
Hoffmann’s Sign
Increased mechanical irritability of the sensory nerves in tetany. The ulnar nerve is usually tested. A sudden nipping of the nail of the index, middle, or ring finger produces flexion of the terminal phalynx of the thumb and of the second or third phalynx of the another finger, also known as digital reflex. Indicates cervical myelopathy.
Neuro Exam: Flick middle finger»_space; clawing motion on hand»_space; cervical myelopathy
LHermitte’s Sign
In cervical cord injuries or cord degeneration, transient dysesthesia and weakness noted in all four limbs when the patient flexes the head forward.
Neuro Exam: Flex neck»_space; shock sensation down body»_space; cervical instability or stenosis
Multiple Sclerosis
Progressive degenerative nervous disorder resulting in demyelinating plaques that affect the central nervous tracts.
Possible abnormal SSEPs (especially LE SSEP, increased lumbar to cortical conduction time/decreased central conduction velocity)
Age of onset: 15-40 years
Diabetes Mellitus
Disorder resulting in the inability to metabolize sugar.
Chronic conditions of hyperglycemia cause peripheral neuropathy. Data»_space; may show increased latencies
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy causing widespread demyelination.
Most commonly CMT patients lose use of their extremities as nerves degenerate, occasional loss of sensory nerve functions
SSEP delayed with central prolongation (cortical delay) in LE SSEP
Friedrich’s Ataxia
Progressive degenerative disease targeting large myelinated fibers
Symptoms include muscle weakness, ataxia, loss of sensation in the extremities
Ataxia
Uncoordinated muscle activity resulting in a staggering gait loss of balance and coordination
Apraxia
Inability to produce purposeful movements (cause by brain injury)
Meningocele
Fluid filled meninges protrusion
Myelomenigocele
Protruding sac of the meninges, filled with fluid and possibly nerve root or spinal cord fibers via a defect in the spinal canal.
Syringomyelia
central canal filled with fluid in spinal cord
Arnold-Chiari Malformation
Stenosis of the brainstem at the foramen magnum due to malpositioned brainstem or cerebellum
Tourette’s Syndrome
Brain disorder causing variable symptoms such as facial twitching and involuntary outbursts of profanity
No SSEP affect
Radiculopathy
Pinched or compressed nerve root
Myelopathy
Functional disturbances or pathological changes in the spinal cord
Spondylolisthesis
Forward displacement of one vertebra (usually L5) over inferior vertebra
Spondylosis
Umbrella term for different forms of age-related degeneration of the spine.
Ankylosis
A fused joint
Spinal Stenosis
General term denoting narrowing of the spinal canal leading to nerve root compromise. Term often used for developmental abnormality that leaves a narrow, bony canal.
Dyskinesia
Difficulty or distortion in performing voluntary movements, as in tic, chorea, spasm, or myoclonus. The term dyskinesia may be used in relation to Parkinson’s disease and other extrapyramidal disorders. Dyskinesia can occur as a side effect of certain medications such as L-dopa and antipsychotics.
Tinnitus
Any noise in the ear including ringing and/or buzzing. Caused by a buildup of cerumen in the ear, damage to the eardrum, diseases of the inner ear such as Meniere’s disease and otosclerosis, or drugs such as aspirin and quinine.
Vertigo
Hallucination that one is moving or their surrounding environment is moving
A symptom found in those with diseases in the labyrinth, vestibular nerve, or its nuclei in the brainstem
Meniere’s Disease
A type of labyrinthine disorder characterized by fluctuating hearing loss, attacks of vertigo, and rearing tinnitus
ABR might be abnormal if symptomatic
Otosclerosis
Condition in which there’s abnormal bone growth (Ossicles fusing together) inside the ear resulting in conductive hearing loss
Otitis Media
Acute infection of the middle ear cavity with the reddening and outward bulging of the eardrum, which may rupture
Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)
Tumor of the cochlear or vestibular branch of cranial nerve VIII (auditory nerve)
CPA Tumor
Tumor in the cerebellopontine angle, usually affecting cranial nerves VII and VIII
Bell’s Palsy
Paralysis of the facial muscles due to facial nerve (CN VII) dysfunction
Brainstem injury results in what regarding cranial nerve, sensory and motor deficits?
Results in IPSILATERAL cranial nerve deficits and CONTRALATERAL sensory-motor deficits
Huntington’s Chorea
Characterized by involuntary jerking or twitching movements known as chorea. As the disease progresses, these movements become more pronounced. Affected individuals may have trouble walking, speaking, and swallowing.
SSEP cortical response may have low amplitude and delayed latency
Paresthesia
Perverted sensation such as burning, prickling, or tingling associated with peripheral nerve damage
Interspinous Pseudoarthrosis
The formation of a “false joint” between two spinous processes
Tethered Cord Syndrome
Rare neurological condition in which the spinal cord is attached (tethered) to the surrounding tissues of the spine. This prevents the spinal cord from moving to keep up with the lengthening of the spine as it grows. The result may be nerve damage and severe pain.
External Anal Sphincter, External Urethral Sphincter, and Tibialis Anterior are routinely monitored (S1-S2)
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
Procedure that selectively destroys problematic nerve roots in the spinal cord for the treatment/reduction of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy
EMG monitored routinely, Surgeon will stimulate nerve fibers and section off the ones that give abnormal/excessive responses
Agnosia
Loss of ability to recognize objects, people, sounds, shapes, or smells while the specific sense is not defective nor is there any significant memory loss
Brown-Sequard Syndrome
Due to the damage of one half of the spinal cord, resulting in the ipsilateral paralysis and loss of discriminatory joint sensation, and contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation
Ipsilateral loss of motor function and Contralateral loss of major sensory function below level of injury
Torticollis
Stiff neck caused by spastic contraction of neck muscles drawing the head to one side with chin pointing to the other side
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Acute febrile polyneuritis with progressive muscular weakness of extremities that occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks part of the Peripheral Nervous System
Osteoarthritis
Chronic disorder of a joint with excessive erosion of the cartilage surface associated with excess bone formation at the margins of the joint and gradual loss of function because of pain and stiffness. This may be the outcome of abnormal mechanical forces, such as prior injury, or a systemic disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout
Spina Bifida
Congenital condition where the lamina (usually lumbar) failed to fuse during development. The severest form is myelomeningocele.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy known as a prion-based disease
