Neurologic Conditions Flashcards
Alzheimer’s Disease Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Progressive neurologic disorder that results in deterioration of neurons that are involved in acetylcholine transmission within the cerebral cortex and subcortical areas.
Alzheimer’s Disease Etiology
Unknown but possibly due to lower levels of neurotransmitters, higher levels of aluminum in the brain tissue, genetic inheritance, autoimmune disease, abnormal processing of amyloid, and virus.
Alzheimer’s Disease Incidence
4.5 million individuals in the US.
Higher incidence in women.
6% of individuals over 65 years and 20% of individuals over 80 years.
Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Presentation
Early stages: Loss of orientation, word finding difficulties, emotional lability, depression, poor judgment, impaired self-care.
Middle stages: Behavioral and motor problems like aphasia, apraxia, perseveration, agitation, wandering, or violent/socially unacceptable behaviors. Inability to learn, loss of long-term memory.
Late stages: Severe intellectual and physical destruction. Incontinence, inability to speak, seizure activity, functional dependence.
Alzheimer’s Disease Pharmacology
Medications to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, alleviate cognitive symptoms, and control behavioral changes.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors include tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), and rivastigmine (Exolon)
Alzheimer’s Disease Outcome
Typical course of disease 7-11 years on average.
4th leading cause of death in adults, usually due to infection or dehydration.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Chronic degenerative disease that results in UMN and LMN impairments.
Demyelination, axonal swelling, and atrophy within the cortex, which affects LMN structures.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Etiology
Unknown but likely due to genetic inheritance, slow acting virus, metabolic disturbances, toxicity of lead and aluminum.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Incidence
Risk higher for men.
Usually occurs between 40 and 70 years of age.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinical Presentation
LMN signs: asymmetric muscle weakness, cramping, and atrophy usually in hands. Muscle weakness due to denervation causes fasciculations, atrophy, and wasting with distal to proximal pattern.
UMN signs: Due to loss of inhibition of the muscle. Incoordination of movement, spasticity, clonus, positive Babinski reflex.
Bulbar involvement shown by dysarthria, dysphagia, and emotional lability.
Fatigue and respiratory paralysis.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pharmacology
Riluzole (Rilutek) to slow disease progression.
Symptomatic pharmacology like anticholinergic, antispasticity, and antidepressant medications.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis PT Treatment
Focus on quality of life, low-level exercise, ROM, AD and adaptive equipment, w/c prescription, bronchial hygiene, and energy conservation techniques.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Outcome
Average course of 2-5 years with 20-30% surviving longer than 5 years.
Death usually occurs from respiratory failure.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Compression of the median nerve through carpal tunnel.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Structures that Pass Through Tunnel
Median nerve
Flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis tendons
Flexor pollicis longus tendon
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Etiology
Repetitive use, RA, pregnancy, diabetes, trauma, tumor, hypothyroidism, wrist sprain or fracture, congenital narrowing of the tunnel, vitamin B6 deficiency.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Incidence
Usually diagnosed between 35 and 55 years of age.
More common in women.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Medical Treatment/Pharmacology
Corticosteroid injections
Methylprednisolone injection proximal to tunnel
Surgical release of carpal ligament and decompression of median nerve if conservative treatment fails
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome PT Treatment
Splinting, carpal mobilization, gentle stretching, work and ADL adaptions. 4-6 weeks of treatment.
Post-surgical treatment includes moist heat with e-stim, iontophoresis, cryotherapy, gentle massage, desensitization of the scar, tendon gliding, AROM. Initially avoid wrist flexion and forceful grasp. After 4 weeks can progress to active wrist flexion, gentle stretching, putty exercise, and light progression of resistance exercises. 6-8 weeks of treatment.
Erb’s Palsy Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Upper brachial plexus injury of C5-6 nerve roots. Axillary, lateral pectoral, upper and lower subscapular, suprascapular, and partial paralysis of the long thoracic and musculocutaneous nerves. Loss of rotator cuff, deltoid, biceps brachii, brachialis, and coracobrachialis function.
Erb’s Palsy Etiology
Usually due to difficult delivery as a result of a large baby in breech position or prolonged labor with use of forceps. One side of baby’s neck is stretched, which damages nerves.
In adults, usually occurs from stretching, tearing, or other trauma to upper brachial plexus.
Erb’s Palsy Incidence
1 in every 1,000 live births
Erb’s Palsy PT Treatment
Increase active and passive movement and promote use of weak upper extremity for functional activities. Caregiver education for positioning to avoid further traction.
Erb’s Palsy Outcome
Approximately 9 out of 10 recover with conservative treatment. Nerves grow at a rate of 1 inch per month, so it may take several months or years for nerves repaired at cervical level to reach muscles of the hand.
Erb’s Palsy Clinical Presentation
Flaccid paralysis nicknamed “waiter’s tip deformity,” characterized by loss of shoulder function, loss of elbow flexion, loss of forearm supination, and hand positioned in a pinch grip manner.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Temporary inflammation and demyelination of the peripheral nerves’ myelin sheaths with potential axonal degeneration as a result of autoimmune response.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Etiology
Autoimmune response to previous respiratory infection, influenza, immunization, or surgery. Also associated with viral infections, Epstein-Barr syndrome (herpes), cytomegalovirus (herpes), bacterial infections.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Incidence
Can occur at any age, but most common in young adults and adults between their 5th and 8th decades. Incidence slightly greater in males than females and Caucasians than African Americans.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Clinical Presentation
Motor weakness in a symmetrical, distal to proximal progression, sensory impairment and paresthesia, and possible respiratory paralysis. Lack of DTR and inability to speak or swallow may occur. Peak symptom involvement at 2-4 weeks, followed by a 2-4 week static period, and gradual recovery that can take months to ~2 years.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Medical/Pharmacologic Treatment
Immunosuppressive and analgesic/narcotic medications.
Cardiac monitoring, plasma exchange, and mechanical ventilation (in 30% of patients).
Guillain-Barre Syndrome PT Treatment
Passive ROM, positioning, light exercise. During acute state, limit overexertion and fatigue to avoid exacerbation of symptoms. In later stages, may include orthotic, wheelchair or AD prescription, exercise and endurance, functional and gait training, progressive respiratory therapy (incentive spirometer).
Guillain-Barre Syndrome Outcome
Most reach full recovery but20% have remaining neurological deficits, and 3-5% die from respiratory complications.
Huntington’s Disease Anatomical and Physiological Pathology
Degeneration and atrophy of the basal ganglia (striatum) and cerebral cortex. Loss of neurons and neurotransmitters leads to decrease ability to modulate movement.
Huntington’s Disease Etiology
Autosomal dominant trait