Gaitero - Neurology Flashcards
Neurological Exam (6 steps)
- Mental status
- Gait / posture
- CN exam
- Postural reactions: Proprioception/Hopping
- Spinal reflexes
- PL: Patellar / Withdrawal (flexor)
- TL: Withdrawal
- Cutaneous trunci, perineal
- Palpation (back / neck pain)
3 goals of the neuro exam
- Identify/confirm presence of a neurological problem
- Localize the lesion within the nervous system
- Others
Assess severity/extension lesion Prognosis
VITAMIN D stands for…
VASCULAR INFLAMMATORY / INFECTIOUS TRAUMATIC / TOXIC ANOMALOUS (congenital) METABOLIC IDIOPATHIC NEOPLASTIC / NUTRITIONAL DEGENERATIVE
Spinal Cord Enlargements
There are two regional enlargements of the spinal cord for the innervation of the limbs:
· cervical intumescence C6-T2
composed of cord sections C6, C7, C8, T1, (T2)
· lumbosacral intumescence L4 to S3
composed of cord sections L4, L5, L6, L7, S1, S2, S3 (some say L5 to S1)
Intervertebral disc disease
Degenerative changes increase with repetitive compression (e.g. heavy lifting in flexion) or trauma (e.g. fall); degenerative changes may be asymptomatic
Where does the spinal cord terminate in large breed/small breed dogs & cats?
Large breed - L6
Small breed - L7
Cats - L7/S1
Canine Vertebral Formula
C-7, T-13, L-7, S-3
Spinal cord segmentation
Spinal cord divided in segments: 8 cervical 13 thoracic 7 lumbar 3 sacral >= 2 caudal
3 types of ataxia
Proprioceptive
Cerebellar
Vestibular
Where is the LMN Cell body? Axon?
Ventral Grey horn
From PNS to muscle
Reflex motor activity
UMN Clinical signs
Paresis (weakness)
Decrease of inhibitory LMN reflex so spinal reflexes are increased or normal
Disuse mucle atrophy, increased muscle tone.
Usually proprioceptive ataxia
LMN Clinical signs
Paresis/paralysis
Decreased or absent reflex
Loss of muscle tone
Neurogenic muscle atrophy
Functional classification of the spinal cord (segments)
C1-C5
C6-T2
T3-L3
L4-S3
Extradural
Intradural-Extramedullary
Intramedullary
Outside the dura matter, but pushing pressure on the spinal cord
Inside the dura matter, but not in the actual cord
In the actual spinal cord
Clinical signs of spinal cord compression
- Back/neck pain
- Proprioceptive losses
- Loss of motor/paresis
- paralysis
- loss of nociception (deep pain)
Differentials for acute myelopathies
Febrile cartilagonis embolism myleopathy
Spinal trauma
Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation: extrusion
Annulus fibrosus
fibrous ring of intervertebral disk
Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation: Extrusion vs. protrusion
Extrusion of mineralized nucleus pulposus into the vertebral canal (hansen type 1)- usually acute
Protrusion - usually chronic
Chondrodystrophic breeds/ages (w.r.t IVD herniation)
Daschunds, beagles, cockers, shih tzu (3-6 years old, rare < 2)
Location for IVD extrusion herniation
T11 - L3, cervical (uncommon to be T1-10;inter capital ligament)
IVD Extrusion diagnosis
Thoracic rads
Myelogram (CT)
IVD Extrusion treatment (surgical/when to use)
Surgical: Thoracic: Hemilaminectomy Pediculectomy Cervical: Ventral Slot Use surgical if pain or neurological deficits
Hemilaminectomy
Remove part of a lamina of the vertebral arch in order to decompress the corresponding spinal cord and/or spinal nerve root.
pediculectomy
surgical removal of portions of vertebral pedicles at the level of the intervertebral foramen.
IVD Extrusion emergency
Loss of deep pain
Quick onset
Non-ambulatory (thoracic)
Tetraplegia (cervical)
IVD Extrusion treatment (conservative)
Strict cage confinement for 3-4 weeks Pain killers (NSAIDs Opioids) +/- First episode of pain without deficits (50% get better)
IVD Extrusion treatment (what not to use)
Never use NSAIDs + steroids
Never use anti-inflammatories without cage rest
Steroid use at all is controversial
IVD Extrusion - prognosis
Deep pain present? Yes: 90%
No? < 50%
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) - what is it?
Detachment of the IVD substance (nucleus pulposus) and lodging into a blood vessel - acute. Causes spinal cord ischemia due to the embolism in a spinal cord vessel
(thoracolumbar/cervical)
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) - breeds
Non-chondrodystrophic large breed dogs
Miniature schnauzers
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) - clinical signs
Acute / hyper acute onset
Non-progressive
Asymmetrical CS
Non-painful
Spinal cord arterial supply
10 pm, 2pm = upper spinal cord
6 pm = lower spinal cord
Fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM) - diagnosis
History/clinical signs
Rule out others
MRI - Intramedullary, focal, asymmetrical