Neurology 1 - Conditions Involving One Limb

Question 1

Common causes of peripheral nerve injury

Answer 1

HBC, IM injections, blows, bullets

Question 2

Clinical signs of peripheral nerve injuries

Answer 2

Hypoesthesia or anesthesia, decreased reflexes, knuckling over (loss of conscious proprioception)

Question 3

A dog is rushed into your clinic because it was just hit by a car. You are conducting a neuro exam and there is decreased sensations, reflexes, and tonicity of its right forelimb. What is your treatment plan?

Answer 3

This is peripheral nerve injury.
Glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation. protect the limb from self mutilation/additional injury, and be prepared after 6 months of physio you may need to amputate if no improvement

Question 4

What is arthrodesis?

Answer 4

fix a joint in position

Question 5

An animal has a traumatic injury to nerve roots C6-T2. What do you suspect?

Answer 5

brachial plexus avulsion

Question 6

You know a brachial plexus involves nerves C6-T2. Further localize 4 different locations that have specific lesions

Answer 6

C6-C7 - extension and flexion of shoulder
C8+T1 - extension and flexion of elbow and carpus
C8 and T1 - lateral thoracic nerve, decreased panniculus reflex
T1 ventral nerve roots - preganglionic sympathetic system, see Horner’s (pupil can’t dilate)

Question 7

Prognosis of brachial plexus avulsion?

Answer 7

poor - usually end up amputating after 6m

Question 8

Most common location for a nerve root/peripheral nerve tumor?

Answer 8

caudal cervical area (brachial plexus) - 80%

Question 9

A dog comes in because its owner noticed its front left leg looks “skinner” than the others. You conduct a PE and when you palpate the limb gently, the dog goes nuts and screams with pain. There is no history of trauma, so you decide to do a pyelogram and see a “golf tee sign” at the caudal cervical area. What is your likely diagnosis?

Answer 9

Peripheral nerve tumor

Question 10

Best treatment option for a peripheral nerve tumor?

Answer 10

resection

Question 11

Signalment for fibrocarilaginous emboli?

Answer 11

large/giant breeds 3-6y old

mini schnauzers

Question 12

A client comes in with her mini schnauzer. She says her dog was running around, screamed very loud, and suddenly couldn’t move his hind legs (one was completely paralyzed, the other had paresis). There was no trauma, and he seems to not be in any pain though his myelogram shows his spinal cord is swollen. Due to the rapid onset of this, what do you suspect?

Answer 12

Fibrocartilaginous emboli

Question 13

What do you expect a spinal cord from an animal with a fibrocartilaginous emboli to look like?

Answer 13

liquefactive necrosis, usually one side worse than the other

Question 14

How would you treat an animal with a fibrocartilaginous emboli?

Answer 14

Support! rest, clean, turn, physio

drugs for bladder

Question 15

T/F: it is a good idea to place a catheter in incontinent animals

Answer 15

false, risk cystitis