Limb weakness (oxford clin cases) Flashcards
What pathology does acute (sudden onset) limb weakness indicate?
Trauma or vascular problems (eg stroke/TIA)
What pathology does subacute (hours to days) limb weakness indicate?
Multiple sclerosis
Guillian barre syndrome
Slowing expanding haematoma
What pathology does chronic (weeks to months) limb weakness indicate?
Slow growing tumour
Progressive degeneration eg motor neurone disease
What are common causes of sudden onset limb weakness that originate in the brain?
Ischaemic stroke
TIA
Haemorrhagic stroke
Hypoglycaemia
What are common causes of sudden onset limb weakness that originate in the spinal chord?
Spinal disc prolapse
Spinal cord infarction
What are common causes of sudden onset limb weakness that originate in the peripheral nerve?
Peripheral nerve ischaemia
What are common causes of subactute onset limb weakness that originate in the brain?
Multiple sclerosis
Haematoma
Tumor
What are common causes of subactute onset limb weakness that originate in the spinal chord?
Multiple sclerosis
Tumor
What are common causes of gradual onset limb weakness that originate in the muscle?
Myasthenia gravis
If someone has limb weakness, what other symptoms will make you think its a problem in the brain rather than in the spine or peripheral nervous system?
Deficits in speech or vision
If someone has speech deficit/visual problems alongside limb weakness where is the problem most likely to be?
Brain
What type of headache will a stroke/TIA present with?
It is unlikely there will be headache
What does a unilateral headache preceding the limb weakness indicate?
Hemiplegic migraine
What does a gradual onset headache preceding limb weakness indicate?
Intercranial mass (slowing expanding haemorrhage?)
What symptoms are not typical of stroke and would make you think something else is going on?
Seizure
Loss of conciousness
Headache
What are the 3 main risk factors for stroke?
Previous stroke or TIA
Atrial fibrillation
Atherosclerotic risk factos (hyperlipidaemia, smoking, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, family hx)