Neuro Flashcards
What are the 3 different spinal cord tracts and how to test them?
Dorsal (posterior) column (sensory)
○ Proprioception, vibration, light touch
○ Ipsilateral findings
○ Testing: position of fingers and toes, vibration using tuning fork
Spinothalamic (sensory)
○ Pain, temperature, touch
○ Injuries show as contralateral findings for pain and temperature
○ Testing: pinprick sensation, temperature
Corticospinal tract (motor)
○ Controls motor function on same side
○ Ipsilateral findings
Testing: abnormal motor movements on same side of lesion
Lower motor neuron findings
Bulk: atrophy, fasciculations (muscle fibers twitching)
Tone: flaccid
Pattern: root/plexus/nerve distribution
Reflexes: absent/diminished, toes down
Root, nerve
Upper motor neuron findings
Bulk: normal
Tone: spastic (tight muscles)
Pattern: extensors affected more in arms, flexors more in legs
Reflexes: brisk (intense), up-going toes (Babinski reflex)
Cortex to spinal cord
opening pressure 90%ile ULN and 10%ile LLN
28cm H2O high
11.5 cm low
contraindications to LP
suspected mass lesion (esp posterior fossa)
suspected spinal cord lesion
signs of impending herniation
critical illness
skin infection over the site
Plt <20
*routine head imaging not needed unless signs of optic disc edema or focal signs suggesting mass lesion
Normal CSF
up to 5 WBC (up to 15 in newborns)
polymorphonuclear cells are always abnormal in a child (may have 1-2 in neonate)
xanthochromia suggests subarachnoid hemorrhage (can occur in hyperbilirubinemia, carotenaemia, or high CSF protein)
early signs of stroke on CT <24hr
CT isnt great for acute infarcts due to changes not being apparent in first 24 hr
subtle signs:
- sulcal effacement
- blurring of gray-white matter junction
- hyperdense MCA sign
brachial plexus injuries
C3-C4
-C3,C4,C5 keeps the diaphragm alive
C5-C6
-Biceps
-Erb’s palsy
-Pronate, retained grip strength
C7-C8
-Klumpke palsy
-Claw hand (can’t properly flex or abduct the fingers)
Ramsay hunt syndrome
idiopathic bell’s palsy (herpes zoster)
- steroids + acyclovir
Upper limb myotome testing
Upper memory tool - start at 5 - shoulders (5), bicep curl (6), tricep extension (7), fist (8), fingers spread (T1)
Upper limb nerve root testing
Nerve testing - circle is median, thumbs up is rad, fingers splayed ulnar
An infant presents with roving eye movements, jerking of the extremities, and ataxia. What is the cause?
opsoclonus myoclonus
associated with neuroblastoma
Workup with Urine HMA/VMA or MIBG Scan
Cerebellitis
self limiting process usually following viral infection (ex. varicella, coxsackie, echovirus)
Gait disturbance
Associated with nystagmus, slurred speech, vomiting, irritability, dysarthria, headache, ataxia, dysdiadochokinesia
Differentiate from encephalitis by: no fever, no nuchal rigidity, no seizures, normal WBC and protein on CSF
Guillain Barre treatment
IVIG
Guillain Barre CSF finding
cytoalbuminologic dissociation
- increased protein
- normal to low WBC
early hand preference
typically a missed stroke causing spastic hemiplegia
dyskinetic CP
dystonia, chorea, athetosis
may not present until 2 yrs
usually associated with perinatal distress of kernicterus
DMD inheritance
x linked recessive (out of frame deletion)
You are seeing a 5-year-old boy who is having difficulty walking now after he previously walked at 12 months. His development has otherwise been normal. You notice that he has very well-defined calves. What test would be most in keeping with your suspected diagnosis?
duchenne muscular dystrophy
do a CK
X linked recessive
SeLECTS/BECTS epilepsy treatment
Focal seizures with motor symptoms involving the face - numbness, twitching, hypersalivation, guttural vocalizations, speech arrest
Most occur at night or on awakening
No impairment of awareness
Can progress to GTC
NO treatment needed
remits by age 15
Teenager wakes up and has messed up face and drooling and then it resolves
-Dx? Tx?
SELECTS seizures/Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
NO TREATMENT NEEDED -> unless impairing sleep and school performance then consider carbamazepine
Self resolves by 15yrs old
child presenting with dropping objects in the morning
juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
- treat with VPA > lamotrigine > keppra
- life long treatment
Side effect of ethosuximide
agranulocytosis
side effect phenytoin
gingival hyperplasia
ataxia
SJS
workup indications for complex febrile seizures
Consider LP, EEG, Neuroimaging if:
- Questionable hx of fever
- Focal seizure
- Hx of devel delay
- Abnormal neuro exam (dysmorphic, focal neuro, neurocutaneous findings)
Newborn baby born with hypotonia. History of decreased fetal movements. Normal facial movements. Alert. Weak extremities and low tone. Absent reflexes. What is the most likely diagnosis?
SMA
SMA inheritance
autosomal recessive
Best test for myasthenia gravis
EMG (decremental response to repetitive stimulation)