Neurology Flashcards
What nerve roots make up the brachial plexus
C5 - T1
What is an erb’s palsy
Upper brachial plexus injury
Arm extended
Internally rotated - pronated
Hand extended backwards
Which nerve roots are involved in an erb’s palsy
C5 + 6 - upper brachial plexus
Common causes of an erb’s palsy
Traction injuries - e.g. Motorcycle accident, shoulder dystopia at birth.
What is a Klumpke’s palsy
Lower brachial plexus injury
Claw hand - all digits
Sensory loss over ulnar border of forearm + hand
Nerve roots involved in a Klumpke’s palsy
C8 + T1 - lower brachial plexus
Causes of Klumpke’s palsy
Breech birth injury (arm extension)
Pulling on the arm during delivery
Motorcycle accidents
(Klumpke the monkey hung from the tree)
Winging of the scapula is caused by injury to which nerve
Long thoracic nerve to serratus anterior
When may the long thoracic nerve be damaged
Breast surgery
Axillary surgery
Breast / axillary radiotherapy
Axillary trauma
What nerve runs in the spiral groove of the humerus
Radial nerve
Common causes of radial nerve palsies
Humeral shaft fracture
Elbow dislocation
Monteggia fractures
Compression of neve by prolonged use of ill fitting crutches
Falling asleep with arm hanging over Chair = Saturday night palsy
What nerve is involved in a Saturday night palsy
Radial
What causes wrist drop
Radial nerve palsy
Nerve supply of the anatomical snuffbox
Radial nerve
What does the accessory nerve supply
Trapezius
Sternocleidomastoid
Syx / signs of accessory nerve palsy
Weak shoulder shrug
Inability to turn head against pressure
What does the axillary nerve supply
Motor to deltoid
Sensory to regimental badge area
What nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome
Distal median nerve
Compression of the medial nerve by the flexor retinaculum is called what…..
Carpal tunnel syndrome
In whom is carpal tunnel syndrome more common
Women Pregnancy RA acromegally Hypothyroidism
Syx of carpal tunnel syndrome
Tingling + numbness in radial 3 1/2 digits
Wasting thenar eminence
Features of 6th CN lesion
Eyes appear conjugate in primary position
Failure of abduction of affected eye
Horizontal diplopia when looking at affected side
Features of 4th CN palsy
Diplopia on downward gaze
Sit with head tilted
Failure to aduct on downward gaze
Eyes conjugate in primary position
Features of 3rd CN palsy
Eye down and out
Ptosis
Pupil dilation
What is convgent strabismus
1or both eyes turn in
Will turn out to focus when other eye is covered
What is ramsay hunt syndrome
Herpes zoster (shingles) of the geniculate ganglion. \+ external auditory meatus
What is Ménière’s disease
Recurrent vertigo + deafness, tinnitus, aural fullness.
Benign paroxysmal vertigo symptoms
Short episodes of vertigo triggered by head movement.
Due to free floating particles in the endolymph
What is hallpikes manoeuvre used to diagnose
To confirm benign paroxysmal vertigo.
Move pt from sitting to lying with head below vertical to reproduce vertigo and nystagmus.
Most common cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage
Rupture of berry aneurysm on circle of willis.
Features predisposing to berry aneurysm formation
Defective collagen synthesis - Polycystic kidney disease - Ehlers Danlos High blood pressure conditions - coarctation of the aorta -
Investigations for suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage
CT head.
LP for xanthochromia after 12hr
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia
Mandibular, maxillary or ophthalmic division - unilateral stabbing pain.
Precipitated by touch.
More common in F
Early morning headache,worse on lying down and coughing suggests…
Raised intracranial pressure.
Investigate to exclude SOL.
Features of tension headache
Band-like pain around head
Stress
Features of UMN lesion
Increased tone Hyper-reflexia Spasticity Clonus Pronator drift Extensor plantar response
Features of LMN lesion
Fasciculation
Wasting
Loss of reflexes
Hypotonia
What neurological condition is worse with heat
MS
In what condition does lead-pipe / cog-wheel rigidity occur
Parkinson’s disease
In what condition does a pill-rolling tremor occur
Parkinson’s tremor
In what condition does a festinant gait with reduced arm swing occur
Parkinson’s disease
Decreased muscle action potentials after continuous stimulation suggests what neurological condition
Myasthenia gravis
Features of cauda equina syndrome
Saddle anaesthesia
Bladder and bowel disturbance
Bilateral leg pain
Features of brown sequard syndrome
Ipsilateral loss of vibration and proprioception
Contralateral loss of pain and temperature
Features of Gillian-Barre syndrome
Ascending symmetrical flaccid muscle weakness.
Loss of tendon reflexes.
+/- distal paraesthesia or pain.
20% develop respiratory muscle involvement
Preceding recent respiratory / GI infection (esp campylobacter jejuni)
What is shy-drager syndrome also known as
Multi-system atrophy
Features of multi-system atrophy
autonomic dysfunction
parkinsonism (muscle rigidity +/ tremor and slow movement)
ataxia (Poor coordination / unsteady walking)
Features of wernicke’s encephalopathy
Confusion
Nystagmus
Opthalmoplegia
Ataxia
Features of korsakoff’s syndrome
Memory problems
Confabulation
Irreversible
Cause of a bilateral high-stripping gait
Sensory ataxia
E.g. Peripheral neuropathy
Cause of a scissoring gait
Spastic paraplegia
Cause of a wide-based gait
Cerebellar lesion
Cause of bilateral pin-point pupils
Opiate overdose
Features of a 3rd nerve lesion
Dilated pupil
Ptosis
Eye deviated down and out
Features of horners syndrome
Unilateral ptosis
Facial anhydrosis
Features of an anterior circulation stroke
Unilateral weakness Unilateral sensory deficit Homonymous hemianopia Dysphagia Sensory neglect
Investigations for suspected MS?
Neuro referral - mainly clinical diagnosis EEG MRI - demyelinating plaques LP - oligoclonal bands Immunoassay for myelin antibodies
What cancers metastasise to the brain
Lung Kidney Breast Melanoma Colon
What is a todd’s paresis?
Post-ictal temporary paralysis
Features of a radial nerve palsy?
Wrist drop
Loss of sensation in the anatomical snuffbox
Inability to extend metacarpophalangeal joints
When may the accessory Nerve (CN XI) be damaged?
Surgery to the neck
What nerve wraps around the surgical Neck of the humerus?
Axillary nerve
What nerve is damaged by anterior dislocation of the shoulder?
Axillary nerve
Features of axillary nerve lesion?
Absent sensation to the upper outer arm (Regimental badge patch)
Deltoid muscle paralysis
Limited arm Abduction (0-90. Above 90 = suprasipinatus)
Is clawing of the 4th and 5th digits more marked in a proximal or distal ulnar nerve lesion?
More marked in a distal lesion
Normal pressure on LP
50-180 mm H2O
Normal values and colour of CSF on LP
Clear RBC 0-4 WBC 0-4 Glucose >60% of blood value Protein <4.5 g/L Microbiology - sterile
CSF values suggesting bacterial meningitis on LP
Normal / raised pressure Cloudy RBC 0-4 (normal) WBC >1000 -neutrophils Glucose 0.45g/L
CSF values suggesting viral meningitis on LP
Normal pressure Clear RBC 0-4 (normal) WBC 60% blood value Protein - Normal <0.45g/L
CSF values suggesting TB meningitis on LP
Normal / raised pressure Clear / cloudy RBC 0-4 (normal) WBC >1000 - Lymphocytes Glucose 0.45g/L
CSF values suggesting fungal meningitis on LP
Normal pressure Clear RBC 0-4 (normal) WBC 0-50 - Lymphocytes Glucose 0.45g/L
What does India ink stain
Cryptococcus neoformans (fungi)
What Do oligoclonal bands on CSF indicate?
MS
When is xanthochromia seen in the CSF?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage (Due to erythrocyte breakdown products --> Yellow colour)
Neurological manifestations of Wilson’s disease
Dementia
Tremor
Dyskinesia
What are the MRC grades of power. And what does each one mean
Grade 5 = normal power
Grade 4 = movement against gravity and mild resistance
Grade 3= active movement against gravity
Grade 2 = active movement when gravity eliminated
Grade 1 = flicker of contraction
Grade 0 = no contraction
What is Gillian-Barre syndrome
Post-infective demyelination polyneuropathy.
Immune-mediated demyelination of spinal roots or peripheral nerves.
Management of Gillian-Barre syndrome
Supportive
Ventilatory support if respiratory involvement
What is miller-fisher syndrome
Rare variant of GBS.
Descending paralysis, (reverse order of normal GBS.)
Triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia.
Features of a Bell’s palsy
Unilateral loss of facial movement Normal facial sensation Pain around ear Hyperacusis Loss of salivation / tear secretion
What is a Bell’s palsy
LMN lesion of the facial nerve
CN 7
Cause unknown
What is / what causes myasthenia gravis
Autoimmune destruction of post-synaptic acetylcholine receptors in neuromuscular junction
What is a typical patient with myasthenia gravis
Female
20-40yo
Features of myasthenia gravis
(Inability to sustain a maintained or repeated contraction of striated muscle) Diplopia Ptosis Fatiguability Syx worse after exercise Syx worse at end of day
What is a myasthenic crisis
Sudden onset paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
Necessitating assisted ventilation
Crises may be triggered by infection, fever, an adverse drug reaction or emotional stress.
What is the tension test and what is it used for
AKA edrophonium test
IV edrophonium bromide administered to a patient with suspected MG.
MG confirmed if weakness transiently improves.
Why do all patients with myasthenia gravis need a CT
To rule out thymoma
Management of myasthenia gravis
Anticholinergics (pyridostigmine)
What does an overdose of anticholinergics do
Cholinergic crisis Muscle fasciculation Paralysis Pallor Sweating Excessive salivation Small pupils
What is motor neuron disease
Progressive degeneration of motor neurons within the spinal cord, motor cortex and cranial nerve nuclei.
Features of motor neuron disease
Combination of upper and lower motor neuron signs Limb weakness Fasciculation Spasticity Exaggerated reflexes
Types of motor neuron disease
Progressive muscular atrophy (weakness of distal limb muscles 1st)
Progressive bulbar palsy (early involvement of tongue and pharyngeal muscles)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( combination of distal and proximal muscle wasting)
Management of motor neuron disease
Supportive
Riluzole improves life expectancy
What is lambert eaton syndrome
Impaired neurotransmitter release due to autoantibodies to pre-synaptic voltage gated calcium channels
Associated with underlying malignancy - often lung
Features of lambert eaton syndrome
Muscle weakness - improves with sustained contraction
Autonomic dysfunction - dry mouth, blurred vision, impotence
Absent tendon reflexes
Presentation of a subarachnoid haemorrhage
Severe Sudden onset Occipital headache Vomiting Irritability Photophobia Neck stiffness Reduced consciousness
Presentation of a cluster headache
Unilateral Severe Peri orbital pain Conjunctival injection Lacrimation Nasal congestion 30-90min Same time every day
Typical patient with cluster headaches
Male
Heavy smoking
Excess alcohol
Prophylaxis against cluster headaches
Verapamil (CCB)
Ergotamine
Presentation of trigeminal neuralgia
Sharp stabbing pain
Severe, brief, repetitive
Trigeminal nerve distribution - most commonly mandibular or maxillary