Neuro- Paresis, ataxia, neuropathy and peripheral nerve lesions Flashcards
What can cause an UMN lesion which leads to bilateral paresis?
Common:
- MS
- Cervical spondylitis
- Spinal trauma
- Spinal tumour
- Spinal ischemia
Rare causes:
- MND
- Vit B12 deficiency
- Hereditary spastic paraplegia
- Syringomyelia
If a patient presents with difficulty walking, bilateral spastic leg tone, upgoing plantars, ankle clonus and an absent biceps reflex, at which level is there likely to be a spinal cord lesion?
C5/6
What can cause an UMN lesion which leads to hemiparesis?
- Stroke
- Brain tumour
- Spinal cord lesion
What is the most common UMN cause of sudden hemiparesis?
Stroke
If a patient with Brown Sequard syndrome is dragging their left leg with increased left leg tone and impaired joint position sensation, whilst also having impaired pinprick and pain sensation on the right leg, on which side of the spinal cord is the lesion?
LEFT side of the spinal cord
What is ataxia?
Group of disorders which affects balance, coordination and speech.
Can be cerebellar or sensory
Right sided cerebellar lesions cause which sided ataxia?
Right sided
What is pseudoathetosis?
Continuous involuntary movement of outstretched fingers and hands when eyes are closed
Seen in sensory ataxia
What are the key clinical signs of ataxia?
- Nystagmus
- Ataxic (wide based) gait
- Dysdiadochokinesia
- Dysarthria
- Intention tremor
- Pseudoathetosis (continuous involuntary movements of outstretched hands and fingers when eyes are closed)
In sensory ataxia, which nerve pathway is affected?
Dorsal column
What causes sensory ataxia?
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Paraneoplastic syndrome- lung/breast
What are the 3 top causes of ataxia?
- MS
- Alcohol- mainly gait affected due to degeneration of vermis
- Drugs- Lithium, anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin)
Friedreich’s ataxia is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that causes difficulty walking, a loss of sensation in the arms and legs and impaired speech that worsens over time, and usually onsets at which age?
Age 5-15 years on onset
Other than MS, alcohol and drugs, what can cause ataxia?
- Cerebellar stroke
- Genetics- spinocerebellar ataxia, Friedrich’s ataxia
- Paraneoplastic syndromes- lung/ breast
- Hypothyroidism
- Idiopathic
What are the main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy?
- Numbness
- Burning/stinging
- Tingling, pins and needles
- Touch sensitivity
- Ulcers
- Loss of balance
- Sensory ataxia
What are the 2 main types of peripheral neuropathy?
Sensory and motor
What are the causes of sensory peripheral neuropathy?
- Diabetes
- Vit B12 deficiency
- Alcohol -> Thiamine deficiency
- Drugs (Isoniazid, Ethambutol, Cisplatin, Vincristine)
- Amyloidosis
What are the 3 main clinical features of sensory peripheral neuropathy?
- Impaired pinprick sensation (glove and stocking)
- Impaired joint position and vibration sense
- Ankle jerks may be absent
What are the 3 main clinical features of motor peripheral neuropathy?
- Generalised weakness- worse distally
- Mild impaired pin prick, joint position and vibration sensation
- Absent ankle jerks