Neuro Assesment Flashcards
What are the four types of MS
Corticospinal
Cerebellar
Cerebral
Brainstem
What are the different ways in which MS can progress?
Relapsing remitting Primary progressive Secondary progressive Exacerbation of symptoms (partial/full remission) Quick progression (no remission)
What are the symptoms of MS
Visual loss (optic neuritis)
Diplopia (double vision - caused by brain stem dysfunction)
Limb weakness, cramps, sensory loss (transverse myelitis)
Ataxia (loss of voluntary control- cerebellar lesion)
Fatigue
Urinary infrequency
Bowel dysfunction
What causes MS
Inflammation, demyelination and axon degeneration
Caused by an autoimmune response of the body.
Transmission of neural impulses are slowed and deranged
Odema, formation of scar tissue plaques on the myelin
What causes Parkinson’s
It is a progressive condition caused by the loss of dopaminergenic neurons in substantia nigra (area of midbrain) 80% cells lost
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter, axons extend to the thalamus, caudate + putamen areas of the (basal ganglia)
Dopamine inhibits acetylcholine
What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s
Tremors Rigidity Depression Dementia Shuffling gait Dysphagia Akinesia Muscle rigidity & stiffness Bradykinesia Loss of postural reflexes Photophobia neck stiffness
What are the two types of meningitis and what causes them?
Caused by inflammation of the meninges caused by infection
Bacterial (meningococcal) = death within hours
Fungal = deterioration in weeks
Pathogens usually start in the sinuses, nasopharynx, inner ear, skull + bloodstream
Can be caused by malignant cells, inflammatory disease, drugs, subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Bacteria multiply in the subarachnoid space
Immune / inflammatory response
Cerebral oedema, increased ICP, neuro damage
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis and meningococcal septicemia
Petechal rash- small, red, non blanching Purpric rash- >0.5cm, non blanching Pyrexia Fever Seizures Irritability Neck stiffness Confusion Hypotonia (floppy) Brudlinskis sign Kernig’s sign
What’s is the treatment for meningitis
Follow the sepsis protocol
Benzylpenicillin follow Jrcalc guidelines
What are the five types of headaches and what causes them?
- Abrupt onset -ruptured cerebral aneurysm= subarachnoid haemorrage , obscure GCS! Feels like I’ve been kicked in the head
- On awakening/ constant occurrence- increased ICP?
- Focal- focal neurological damage, weakness, speech dysfunction, clumsiness, vertigo, seizures
- Meningism
- Temporal arteritis- inflammation of temporal arteries. >60yrs focal and tender to touch. Jaw pain on chewing
What are the three types of cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Can be blockage or haemorrage
- Ischemic - blockage of an artery due to an embolus or thrombosis
Less than 24hr transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Longer then 24hr complete stroke - Haemorragic - bleeding/ruptured vessel. Intracerebral hematoma
- Subarachnoid - rupture of a blood vessel into the cerebrospinal fluid within the subarachnoid space
How do you treat a CVA
Fast test
PEARRL
Within 4.5hrs then HASU
What is the treatment for seizures
Basic airway management
O2
Diazepam >5 mins
What causes seizures
Transient occurrence of signs and or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain
What are the different types of seizures
Generalized Absent (loss of focus) Tonic clonic (convulsive, stiff and then twitches) Atonic (head drop seizures) Clonic (convulsion) Tonic (stiffness) Myoclonic (twitches)
Focal
Simple
Complex
