Neurological Assesment

Question 1

Define Babinski’s Sign

Answer 1

Stroke heel to toes. +ve if big toe flexes towards body & other toes fan out.
Indicative of neurological damage in adults, normal in children

Question 2

Define Brudzinki’s Sign

Answer 2

Lifting of knees when head manually lifted in supine position.
Indicative of meningitis

Question 3

What is decorticating posturing?

Answer 3

Arms, hands & feet flexed inwards (towards core). Occurs when opposing set of muscles become incapacitated, indicative of severe brain damage.

Question 4

What is decerebrate posturing?

Answer 4

Arms, hands & feet extended outward. Occurs when opposing set of muscles become incapacitated, indicative of severe brain damage.

Question 5

Define Kernig’s Sign

Answer 5

‘K’nee & hip bent at 90*, further extension of knee leeds to pain / resistance.
Indicative of meningitis

Question 6

Define Nuchal Rigidity

Answer 6

Stiff neck, unable to touch chin to chest.

Indicative of meningitis.

Question 7

Define myclonic

Answer 7

Brief twitching of muscle group

Question 7

Define tonic phase

Answer 7

Rigidity

Question 8

What is Lennox-Gastout Syndrome?

Answer 8

Childhood onset epilepsy 2-6y

Question 9

Define clonic phase

Answer 9

Alternate contraction & relaxation of muscles

Question 10

Define Contralateral sign

Answer 10

Passive flexion of one leg results in similar movement in opposite leg. Indicates meningeal irritation (eg Brudzinki’s sign)

Question 11

Define Romberg’s Sign

Answer 11

Inability to maintain balance when standing with feet together & eyes closed.

Question 13

Ramak’s reflex

Answer 13

Plantar flexion of first 3 toes & sometimes foot & extension of knee when upper anterior thigh stroked. Indicative of spinal cord lesion.