Nerve Lesions Flashcards
How does carpal tunnel syndrome occur?
Results from pressure and compression on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist
What is the compression in carpal tunnel syndrome usually the result of?
Inflammation of nearby tendons and tissues = oedema
What is carpal tunnel syndrome associated with?
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes mellitus
- Pregnancy (third trimester)
- Amyloidosis including in dialysis patients
- Obesity
- Rheumatoid arthritis - joint inflammation
- Acromegaly
Is carpal tunnel syndrome more common in men or women and why?
It is more common in women as they have narrower wrists but similar sized tendons
How do the symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome usually start?
Aching pain in the hand and arm (especially at NIGHT)
What can the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome lead to?
Paresthesia (tingling or prickling) in thumb, index, middle & 1/2 ring fingers + palm (median nerve distribution)
What can often relive the paresthesia caused by carpal tunnel syndrome?
Relieved by dangling the hand over the edge of the bed - “wake and shake”
Apart from pain and paresthesia what other symptoms can carpal tunnel syndrome cause?
- Sensory loss and weakness of abductor pollicis brevis (thumb abductor) +/- wasting of the thenar eminence (muscles at the base of thumb)
- Clumsiness with fiddly tasks
- Light touch, 2-point discrimination and sweating may be impaired
What would you see on an Electromyography (EMG) in someone with carpal tunnel syndrome?
- See slowing of conduction velocity in the median sensory nerves across the carpal tunnel
- Prolongation of the median distal motor latency
- Helps to confirm lesion site and severity
What is the Phalens test?
Patient can only maximally flex wrist for 1 minute and will produce symptoms of carpal tunnel.
What is the tinsel test?
Tapping on the nerve at the wrist induces tingling - but non-specific.
What symptoms would be present in a lesion in the oculomotor nerve (CNIII)?
- Ptosis - dropping eyelids
- Fixed dilated pupil - loss of PARASYMPATHETIC outflow from EDINGER WESTPHAL NUCLEUS which supply pupillary sphincter and ciliary bodies - lens accommodation
- Eye down and out
What symptoms would be present in a lesion in the trochlear nerve (CNIV)?
A head tilt to correct the extortion that results in diplopia on looking down e.g. walking downstairs
What does the trochlear nerve do?
Innervates superior oblique muscle
What does the abducens nerve do?
Innervates the lateral rectus