Neurology Flashcards
What is the treatment of Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
oral aciclovir and oral corticosteroids are usually given if patient is systemically well
Where is the lesion in Bells palsy?
lower motor neuron - do not cause forehead sparing
What are the features of Horner’s syndrome?
miosis - small/constricted pupil
ptosis - drooping of upper eyelid
endophthlamos (sunken eye)
anhidrosis (loss of sweating one side)
What is the first-line treatment for absence seizures?
ethosuximide
What is the first-line treatment for focal seizures?
lamotrigine or levetiracetam
What is the gold standard test for diagnosing venous sinus thrombosis?
MR venogram
what is the first line treatment for tonic or atonic seizures?
males: sodium valproate
females: lamotrigine
At what GCS level should a patient be intubated?
Less than 8
What is the ROSIER tool used for?
used to differentiate stroke from stroke mimics
What is the ROSIER tool used for?
used to differentiate stroke from stroke mimics
What is the treatment of Bell’s Palsy?
prednisolone + eye care
What should be given if you suspect meningitis in children?
< 3 months: IV amoxicillin + IV cefotaxime
> 3 months: IV cefotaxime or ceftriaxone
NICE advise against corticosteroids in children younger than 3 months
What are the features of Bell’s Palsy?
lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy - forehead affected
post-auricular pain, altered taste, dry eyes, hyperacusis
How can you differentiate between Parkinsons disease dementia and dementia with lewby bodies?
PDD = parkinsonian symptoms for at least a year then dementia symptoms
DLB = neuropsychiatric + dementia symptoms for a year then parkinsonism
Which nerve/nerve root is tested with triceps reflex?
radial nerve - c7
How does lacunar stroke present?
one of the following:
- unilateral weakness and/or sensory deficit of face and arm, arm and leg or all three
- pure sensory stroke
- ataxic hemiparesis
What are the effects of Levodopa in patients with Parkinsons?
- more improvement in motor symptoms
- more improvement in activities of daily living
- more motor complications
- fewer specified adverse effects
What are the features of L5 Nerve root decompression?
Sensory loss over the dorsum of foot
Weakness in foot and big toe dorsiflexion
Reflexes intact
Positive sciatic nerve stretch test
What is the NICE guidance on performing a CT scan within 8 hours of injury?
Age 65+
Any history of bleeding or clotting disorders including anticoagulants
Dangerous mechanism of injury
More than 30 mins retrograde amnesia of events immediately before the head injury (?)
What invstigation should be done if you suspect takayusu’s arteritis?
ct angiography of the large vesels
What anaesthetic agent would people with myasthenia gravis most likely be resistant to?
suxamethonium
what are the features of delirium tremens?
symptoms start at 6-12 hours: tremor, sweating, tachycardia, anxiety
peak incidence of seizures at 36 hours
peak incidence of delirium tremens is at 48-72 hours: coarse tremor, confusion, delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, fever, tachycardia
What is the management of spinal cord compression?
high dose oral dexamethasone
urgent oncological assessment for consideration of radiotherapy or surgery - radiotherapy may be indicated in older frail patients
what is the most common medical cause of a third nerve palsy?
diabetes
What are the features of Broca’s aphasia and what causes it?
Expressive aphasia
caused by a lesion in the inferior frontal gyrus - typically supplied by the superior division of the left MCA
speech is non-fluent, laboured and halting.
Repetition is impaired
Comprehension is normal
What are the features of Wernicke’s aphasia and what causes it?
Due to a lesion in the superior temporal gyrus
Typically supplied by the interior division of the left MCA
This area ‘forms’ the speech before ‘sending it’ to Brocas area
The lesion results in sentences that make no sense, word substitution and neologisms but speech remains fluent - ‘word salad’
What are features of a common peroneal nerve lesion?
characteristic feature is foot drop
other features include:
- weakness of foot dorsiflexion
- weakness of foot eversion
- weakness of extensor hallucis longus
- sensory loss over dorsum of foot and lower lateral part of leg
- wasting of anterior tibial and peroneal muscles
what are the features of cubital tunnel syndrome and what nerve is affected?
compression of the ulnar nerve as it passes through the cubital tunnel:
- tingling and numbness of the 4th and 5th finger which starts off intermittent and then becomes constant
- over time patients may also develop weakness and muscle wasting
pain worse on leaning on the affected elbow
- over a history of osteoarthritis or prior trauma to the area
What is the triad of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
confusion
ataxia
ophthalmoplegia (weakness or paralysis of eye muscles)
What are the features of specific focal seizures?
temporal - automatisms (lip-smacking) - deja vu or jamais vu, emotional disturbance (sudden terror), olfactory, gustatory or auditory hallucinations
frontal - motor features such as Jacksonian features, dysphasia or Todd’s palsy
parietal - sensory symptoms such as tingling and numbness, motor symptoms
occipital - visual symptoms such as spots and lines in the visual field