Neuro Flashcards
Two signs in meningism
Kernigs
Brudzinskis
Clinical picture of optic neuritis
Uhthoffs phenomenon Pain with eye movements Other MS signs Loss of monocular vision RAPD
What does RAPD stand for?
Relative afferent pupillary defect
Differentials of weakness
MS - optic neuritis ? RR pattern? Uhthoffs?
GB - post GI infection, ascending
MND - upper and lower MN signs
B12 deficiency - distal weakness
Myopathy - proximal weakness
Mononeuropathy - Saturday night palsy (radial)
Stroke (ask about and coats+ heart probs)
Management of encephalitis
If viral - acyclovir + nutrition &physio
Acute management of meningitis
Assess consciousness
Blood cultures
Abx - vancomycin + cefalosporin
Steroids- dexamethasone
Triad of meningitis Symps
Neck stiffness
Fever
Headache
Two viral causes of encephalitis
Herpes simplex virus HSV
Varicella zoster virus -VSV
Clinical picture of encephalitis
Preceding flu like illness
Memory loss
Fever
Seizures
Contraindications to LP
If suspect mass lesion/ RICP
Purpuric/ peticial rash
Anticoagulants
What would LP show in Guillian Barre syndrome
Raised protein
What would LP show in bacterial meningitis
Raised cell count
Decreased glucose
What are the two types of rash seen in meningococcal (Nisseria meningitidis ) meningitis ?
Pupuric
Pecticial
- non blanching purple spots
Red flag diagnoses of RED EYE
Corneal ulcer Contact lens related red eye Acute angle glaucoma Scleritis Neonatal conjunctivitis
Three ophthalmoscope findings that require urgent attention
Retinal detachment
Papilloedema
GCA
5 red flag causes of ptosis
Myasthenia gravis Horners syndrome Stroke 3rd nerve palsy GCA
Define Bell’s palsy
Acute ipsilateral hemiparalysis of the face due to inflammation and swelling of the facial nerve in the facial canal
What is Ramsay hunt syndrome
Facial pain (major) and weakness due to herpes zoster virus in the geniculate ganglion. Vesicular eruption in the external auditory meatus.
Describe the pyramidal pattern of weakness
Flexors are stronger than extensors in the upper limbs and opposite is true in lower limbs
Pyramidal lesion presents w/
+spasticity
+ hypereflexia
+weakness
What is the extra pyramidal system responsible for ?
Balance and posture
What is the main structures involved in the extra pyramidal system
Basal ganglia
Give 3 extra pyramidal system disorders
PD
Huntington’s
Wilson’s disease
What is dystonia
Involuntary painful muscle movements / spasms
Give examples of drugs responsible for drug induced dystonia
Antipsychotics
Neuroepilieptics
Levodopa
What is meant by a non organic finding and give examples of potentially non organic diseases
A finding that doesn’t have a direct anatomical cause
Lower back pain Dizziness Vomiting Chest pain Headache Weakness Visual disturbance Sensory disturbance
Headache differentials
Tension / migraine / cluster/ med-overuse
GCA
Meningitis - neck stiffness / fever
RICP - worse in morning +bending/ sneezing
Haemorrhage
What is a myotome
Muscles innervated by a spinal root
Define dermatome
Area of skin supplied by a nerve root
What movement is C5 responsible for
Shoulder abduction.
Where would you test C7 dermatome?
Middle finger
Where would you test T1 innervation
Inner arm
Where would you test c8 dermatome
Little finger
Where would you test c6 dermatome
Index finger
What nerve root is responsible for arm flexion
C6= elbow flexion
What nerve root is responsible for finger abduction and suggest which nerve and which cord
T1
Ulnar
Medial cord
Which nerve root is responsible for elbow extension
C7
What myotome is responsible for finger flexion
C8
What muscle is responsible for elbow extension ? What nerve innervates this
Biceps Musculocutaneous nerve (lateral cord therefore c5/c6)
What muscle is responsible for thumb abduction
Abductor pollicis brevis
Three tests for cortical sensation.
Two point discrimination
Stereognosis
Graphasthesia
Where do the lateral cerebrospinal neurones decussate?
At the medulla
Where do the ventral cerebrospinal neurones decussate?
In the ventral horn at the level of exit
What sensory modalities are Carried in the DCML system
Fine touch , vibration, proprioception
Where do the neurones of the DCML system decussate ?
At the medulla (they ascend ipsilaterally)
What fasiculus does S info from the upper limb travel in
Upper limb = cuneate fasciculus
What sensory modalities are carried in the lateral spinothalamic tract?
Pain and temperature
What sensory modalities are carried in the anterior spinothalamic tract
Crude touch and pressure
At what level do the neurones of the spinothalamic tract cross over ?
Level of entry
If a lesion occurs on the R side of the SC which side is proprioception lost on?
R side
Injury to the R side of the SC will cause pain and temp loss on which side of the body
Left
will lead to loss of pain and temp sensation on the contra lateral side
Classic feature of myasthenia gravis
Fatigue-ability or face and neck
What disorders affect the UMN?
MS, stroke, MND
In a real bulbar palsy is it the UMN or LMN affected and name a condition where this may happen? How will the jaw jerk reflex present ?
LMN
GBS
Absent JJR
In a pseudo- bulbar palsy which neurone is affected upper or lower? And what condition might this occur in? How will the Jaw jerk reflex present
Upper
MS
Brisk JJR
What is verbal apraxia
Struggle to make movements of speech
A lesion in the DCML can be due to a deficiency in what substance?
B12
What is the difference between rigidity and spasticity
Spasticity is velocity dependent
4 causes for causes of both UMN & LMN signs
Subacute degen of SC due to B12 deficiency
Syphilis
MND
2 diff pathologies
Does polio effect UMN or LMN?
LMN
3 signs in horners syndrome
Partial ptosis
Miosis
Anhydrosis
What nerve can be compressed at the elbow
Ulnar
What nerve commonly causes wrist drop?
Radial nerve
In NMJ pathologies what modalities are affected
Motor only
Sensory only
Motor and sensory
Motor only
Give the clinical syndrome name for pins and needles caused by nerve root compression I.e. cauda equina
Radiculopathy
Give the clinical syndrome name for any disease of the spinal cord
Myelopathy
What neuro clinical syndrome could cause visual disturbances and no periods
Parasellar syndrome
What conditions would you see when the basal ganglia has
A- too much control
B- too little control
A- Parkinson’s
B- chorea
What GCS score would someone who opens their eyes to pain, localises to pain and says inappropriate words achieve
10
= moderate brain injury 12-9
What is a lateralising sign a sign of -
Inner tension
What sign would you see with a 3rd nerve palsy
Fixed dilated pupil
What is the differential of a 3rd nerve palsy
A blind eye (here will get contralateral construction w/ pen torch
What activities might a patient report struggling with if they have a myelopathy
Zips
Buttons
Keyboards
Phones
Fine hand movements
What myotome / movement is c6 responsible for
Biceps (elbow flexion)
What myotome is c7 responsible for
Triceps
What dermatome is c7 responsible for?
Middle finger
What dermatome is T1 responsible for ?
Little finger
What dermatome is c6 responsible for
Thumb and index finger
What dermatome is c5 responsible for
Skin over deltoid
What muscle movement is c5 responsible for
Shoulder abduction
What movement is c8 responsible for
Finger flexion
Where would you expect to find a tumour that causes L unsteadyness and hearing loss
L cerebellopontine angle
How many mls of CFS is produced in 24hours
500mls
How many music csf can the ventricular system hold
20mls
What is the total csf volume
120mls
What is normal pressure of the csf
5-15cm
3 upper motor neurone signs
Hoffmanns
Babinskis
Ankle clonus
The median nerve is responsible for thumb abduction. What trunk does the median nerve receive it’s motor innervation from ?
Inferior trunk
(Medial cord)
C8/T1
What cord does the median nerve receive it’s sensory innervation from ?
Superior trunk
Lateral cord
What trunk might be damaged if shoulder abduction is not possible
Superior trunk
What is different about the optic nerve compared to other cranial nerves
It is part of the CNS (Hence affected in MS- blurred vision) all other cranial nerves are part of the PNS
What does distal weakness suggest?
Nerve pathology
What does proximal weakness suggest
Muscle pathology
Name 3 mono neuropathies
Ulnar nerve palsy
Radial nerve palsy- Saturday night palsy (compressed at axilla)
Median nerve palsy - carpel tunnel
What is carpel tunnel syndrome
Compression of the median nerve by the flexor retinaculum
Causes on mononeuritis multiplex
CT disorders
Vasculitis
What is the clinical picture seen in mononeuritis multiplex
Painful
Effects many nerves across the body
Asymmetrical
Subacute presentation
Name the immunosuppressant classically used to tx vasculitic neuropathies
Cyclophosphamide
What Alzheimer’s medication is used to treat LBD
Rivistigmine
What ACEi is used to treat myasthenia gravis
Pyridostigmine
Name two immunoSs used in vasculitic disease
Azothiaprine
Cyclophosphamide
Management of GBS resp failure crisis
ABCD ABG ECG Early anaesthetic help ?Infection Supportive autonomic management IVIG
What is kernigs sign
Painful to straighten a flexed knee when hips are flexed
Brudsinskis sign
Lift neck up when straighten legs
How do you treat tachyC
Cardio version
How do you treat Bradycardia
Pacing
How would you treat a vasculitic neuropathy
ImmunoSS
Aripiprazole
Cyclophosphamide
How would you treat inflammatory neuropathies
Steroids - prednisolone
What sensation is effected in gluten sensitivity
Proprioception
Two anterior horn cell diseases
MND
Polio
Horners presentation
Ptosis
Miosis
Anhydrosis
If you can’t planar flex your foot which nerve root is affected
S1
How would an L5 radiculopathy present
Foot drop and loss of sensation on big toe and dorsum of foot
Commonest cause of cauda equina
Prolapsed disc
Features of cauda equina
Weak legs Sexual dysfunction Compaction Retention Pain Saddle anesthesia
Rash in dermatomal pattern=?
Shingles
Non motor symps of Parkinson’s
Sleep disturbances Constipation Pain Fatigue Anxiety and depression Psychosis
Assymetrical features of PD
Arm swing
Tremor
Foot drop
Tx of benign essential tremor
Beta blockers
Parkinson tx
Levodopa
Co-careldopa
Selegaline
Parkinson’s differentials
Normal pressure hydrocephalus - exclude w. CT
Multiple systems atrophy
Benign essential tremor- will scribble all over page
Tx pathway for SE
Pre hospital- rectal Diaz, buccal midaz
Hosp- IV loraz , IV phenytoin
?intubate
IV dextrose
Monitor temp and acidosis
Consider causes - infection, intracranial event
Consider complications - renal damage from circ collapse, rhabdomyalisis, aspiration
Pathophysiology of Huntington’s
CAG repeats
Huntingtin protein aggregates
Loss of GABA neurones therefore less inhibition of dopamine release
What would CT in a Huntington’s pt show
Caudate atrophy
Enlarged ventricles
Huntington’s differentials
BG stroke
Rh fever
Wilson’s disease
SLE
What is tetrabenazine
Dopamine depleting agent
Causes of morning headache
Sinusitis
RICP
Sleep apnoea
Headache differentials
RICP Tension/cluster/migraine Med over use Meds in GTN NPH IHH GCA/ trigeminal neuralgia SAH Meningitis
Features of RICP headache
Worse in morning
Wakes in sleep
Worse on coughing and sneezing
+- papillodema
Everything about GCA
Scalp tenderness Amouris fungax- sudden painless vision loss Posterior ciliary A Measure ESR/CRP Jaw Claudication
Tx of migraine
Propanol -1st line
Amytriptaline 2nd line
Topirimate
Botox injections
Red flags for headache
New onset Papillodema RICP Seizures LoC Abnormal neuro exam
Headache where you want to rest
Migraine
Headache where you are restless
Cluster
Bilateral headache
Tension
Unilateral headache
Migraine
Cluster
Trugeminal neuralgia
How many attacks do you need to have for a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia
3
Criteria for migraine
5 attacks 4-72hours Unilateral throbbing Aggravated my physical activity Phono/photophobia N&v
Duration of the tension headache
30mins -7days
Which headache is associated with red eye and lacrimation
Ipsilateral cranial autonomic features
Cluster
Features of IIH
Over 30 Fat Fertile - oestrogen Visual disturbance Headache Lp= normal contents but high pressure Tx = diuretics , CSF shunt , lifestyle mods
Tx of GCA
Steroids
Diagnosis for trigeminal neuralgia
3 attacks Unilateral In the distribution of trigeminal n Sharp Preceded by eating/ shaving
Tx for trigeminal neuralgia
Carbamazepine
None Opiod pain relief
Surgery
What does an NIHSS score of 13 indicate
Mild-mod stroke
What does an NIHSS score of 22 indicate
Severe stroke
What is the cut off score on NIHSS for a very severe stroke
25
What is the stroke classification system and what are the 4 classes
Bamford TACS PACS LACS POCS
Cause of seizure
Hyponatremia
Trauma
Differentials for vertigo+ deafness
Schwannoma
Cerebellopontine angle syndrome
Management of SAH
Supportive Lp Ct Nimodipine Reverse anticoagulant Endovasc coiling / clipping
Differentials for cause of coma
Epilepsy Stroke Drugs/ alcohol DKA Addisons crisis Trauma
Fever+ confusion should make you query what
Encephalitis
Pins and needles suggests what pathology
Nerve root compression
Problems with small hand movements might suggest pathology where?
Spinal cord
A lateralising sign suggests what
Inner tension
Causes of optic neuritis
Diabetes
Syphilis
MS
Features of optic neuritis
Pain w’ eye movement
RAPD
Unilateral visual acuity
3rd nerve palsy features
Ptosis
Eye down and out
Dilated
Fixed Dilated pupil differentiation
Death
Blind eye
3rd nerve palsy
Benzos
What is the classical presentation of a myelopathy
Fine hand movements affected i.e phones , keyboard , buttons , zip
How much CSF is produced in a day
500ml
How much CSF is there at any one time
120ml
What is the normal pressure of the CSF
5-15cm H2O
How much CSF can the ventricles hold
20ml
No corneal reflex = damage to which nerves
5i ,7
Afferent nerve of corneal reflex
Ophthalmic nerve
Efferent nerve of corneal reflex
Facial
Pupillary reflex afferent limb
Optic nerve
Pupillary reflex efferent limb
Occular motor
Stroke in the visual cortex would give what presentation
Homonymous hemianopia W/ macular sparing
Where does the macular receive its blood supply from
PCA and MCA
What visual presentation might you see in a stroke to the L temporal love
R sided homonymous congruent Inferior quadrantopia
What type of innervation is there into the edinger-Westfiel nucleus
Bilateral
Which nerve supplies SO of the eye
Trochlear
Which nerve supplies LR of the eye
Abducens
Treatment of Bell’s palsy
Corticosteroids
+- antivirals
A left sided cortical lesion would effect what area of the face
R lower quad
Bilateral innervation to the forehead
What is the biggest feature of Ramsay hunt syndrome
Pain !!!
Then facial weakness
Tx of Ramsay hunt
Acyclovir
Causes of whole face weakness
GBS MG Bilateral supranuclear lesions Lymes disease Sarcoidosis
Tx of trigeminal neuralgia
Carbamazepine
What classically causes amaourosis fungax
GCA
What is horners syndrome
Damage to the symp nerves that supply the face
Causes of B12 deficiency
Veganism
Pregnancy
Pernicious anaemia
Mal absorb- coeliac
What test will be positive if there is damage to the dorsal columns
Rhombergs
U&LMNS + glove and stocking paraparesis = what condition
Sub acute spinal degen (b12)
Investigations to do in epilepsy
MRI
EEG
Video EEG
SPECT
Cardiac causes of syncope
Long QT- arrhythmia Scar from pervious MI WPW Brugada Epsilon waves Heart blocks Valvular
Heart block causes of cardiac syncope
Trifascicular block
Mobits T2
3rd degree
What is trifascicular heart block
RBBB
LAD
first degree heart block
Name a condition where you would see synchronous jerking and one where you would see asynchronous jerking
Synchronous - epilepsy
Assynchronous - syncope
You don’t give AE’s in a first seizure what do you give instead
Benzos (loraz)
5 differentials for black out
Epilepsy NEAD Syncope HypoG Hydrocephalus