NEUROLOGY Flashcards
How does a pontine haemorrhage present?
Reduced GCS
Paralysis
Bilateral pinpoint pupils
If a specialist wants imaging for a suspected TIA, what is usually the preferred modality?
MRI brain with diffusion-weighted imaging
What type of epilepsy is Jacksonian movement usually associated with?
Frontal lobe epilepsy
Side effects of phenytoin?
Peripheral neuropathy
Gingival hyperplasia
Lymphadenopathy
From which way up are CT and MRI usually viewed?
From feet up
Visual field defect for left temporal lobe infarct?
Right superior quadranopia
Visual field defect for left parietal lobe infarct?
Right inferior quadranopia
Visual field defect for a craniopharyngioma?
Lower bitemporal hemianopia
(Its compressing the superior optic chiasm)
Visual field defect for a pituitary tumour?
Upper bitemporal hemianopia (compresses the inferior optic chiasm)
What is the gold standard test for diagnosing degenerative cervical myelopathy?
MRI of cervical spine - will show disc degeneration, ligament hypertrophy and cord signal change
Presentation of degenerative cervical myelopathy?
Pts over 50 with progressive neurological symptoms
Can cause pain in neck or limbs, loss of motor function, loss of sensory function causing numbness, urinary/facial incontinence, Hoffmann sign
50% are incorrectly diagnosed initially!
Nerve conduction study findings in Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Decreased conduction velocity of motor nerves due to demyelination
Also show prolonged distal motor latency and increased F wave latency
How does retinitis pigmentosa present?
Loss of night vision that usually starts in childhood
Tunnel vision
May be FHx
When can AEDs be stopped and over what time period do they have to be stopped?
Can be considered if seizure free for >2 years
Must be stopped over 2-3 months
How does subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord present?
Affects DCML -> Distal sensory loss and tingling that tends to affect legs more than arms and impaired proprioception and vibration sense
Affects lateral corticospinal tract -> Absent ankle jerks and extensor plantars, brisk knee reflexes, muscle weakness, hyperreflexia and spasticity
Affects spinocerebellar tract -> Gait abnormalities/romberg positive
How is primary lateral sclerosis different to ALS?
PLS presents with UMN signs only unlike ALS which presents with a mixture of UMN + LMN
Symptoms of anterior spinal artry infarction?
Acute back pain at the level of injury
Bilateral flaccid para/quadriparesis or plegia
Loss of pain and temperature
Preservation of proprioception, vibratory sense, fine touch, and two-point discrimination
Autonomic dysfunction with hypotension, bradycardia, and impaired temperature regulation
Respiratory failure
Spinal shock
It basically affects whole spinal cord except for the DCML!!
What is the most common cause of anterior spinal artery infarct?
Aortic surgery iatrogenic
Where is the common peroneal nerve?
It comes from the back of the knee and wraps around the proximal head of the fibula
What does the superficial peroneal nerve supply?
Innervates muscles of lateral compartment of leg e.g. Eversion of the foot
Supplies sensory function to anterolateral aspect of distal leg and majority of dorsum of foot (apart from webbing between hallux and second digit)
What does the deep peroneal nerve supply?
Innervates the anterior compartment of the leg and some intrinsic muscles of tyhe foot = dorsiflexion of ankle and extension of toes
Supplies sensory function to triangular region of skin between 1st and 2nd toes
What is Uhtoff’s phenomenon?
temporary, short-lived (less than 24 hours), and stereotyped worsening of neurological function among multiple sclerosis patients in response to increases in core body temperature e.g. after a shower
What is the rhyme for remembering nerve roots for each reflex?
S1, S2 tie your shoe - ankle
L3, L4 kick the door - knee
C5, C6 pick up sticks - bicep
C7, C8 close the gate - tricep
When a disc herniation happens why does it cause an impingement rather than corda equina?
As the posterior longitudinal ligament stops the disc herniation from impinging the entire spinal canal
Over time degeneration of this ligament can mean pts are predisposed to cauda equina
Are cranial nerves UMN or LMN?
LMN