Neurology Flashcards
What is the aim of a neurological examination?
To determine is a lesion is present and to find the anatomical site of that lesion
What is the acronym for what aspects of the general neurological system you should be testing?
Two People Can’t Resist Sex
Tone, Power, Co-ordination, Reflexes, Sensation
What can differences in tone tell you about the location of a lesion?
Increased tone - UMN
Decreased tone - LMN
What is cog-wheeling?
Cog-wheel rigidity - tremor superimposed upon rigidity
What is important when testing for power?
Comparing both sides with similar forces
What is the scale for the MRC criteria of power?
0 = complete paralysis 1 = flicker of contraction 2 = movement against gravity 3 = movement against gravity 4 = moderate power against resistance 5 = normal power
How is co-ordination tested?
Finger-nose command - patients own nose to your finger as fast as possible - arms length away from patient
What is dysdiadochokinesia?
Inability to repeat rapid alternating movements
How are reflexes tested?
Tendon Tap
- Hyper-reflexia - UMN
- Hypo-reflexia - LMN
How is sensation tested?
Light touch - cotton wools bilateral
Vibration - tuning fork
Pain - pin-prick
Temperature - metal (cold) and rubber (warm)
What is the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Rates coma severity
What are the factors determining the Glasgow Coma Scale?
Ability of the patient to open their eyes, perform movement and speech
If a patient has a low Glasgow coma scale what does this indicate?
Lower the score the more severe the loss of function
How many categories is the Glasgow Coma Scale split up into?
3
Motor response
Verbal responses
Eye opening
What does AMTS stand for?
Abbreviated Mental Test Score
What is the function of AMTS?
Rapid assessment of possible dementia in elderly patients
Name 3 of the initial questions in the AMTS.
What is your age?
What is the time?
Where do you live?
What is a more conclusive test than the AMTS?
Folstein test
What is a stroke?
Focal neurological deficit lasting longer than 24 hours due to a vascular lesion
What is the difference between a stroke and TIA?
The recovery time - TIA is a focal deficit but recovers in less than 24 hours
What are the three classifications of stroke based on symptoms and recovery times?
Minor Stroke - full evolution and recovery in < 1 week - minimal/no deficit
Stroke in evolution - symptoms that worsen in the first 48 hours
Completed stroke - stage of worst neurological deficit - typically 6-8 hours into event
What are the two main types of strokes with regard to pathogenesis?
Wet stroke - Haemorrhage into brain
Dry stroke - ischaemic vaso-occlusive brain death
Name a type of pathology can lead to stroke-like signs and symptoms?
Space-occupying lesions/tumour
Name three risk factors of stroke.
Diabetes
Cigarettes
Obesity
What is the usual cause of a dry stroke?
Embolism/thrombosis affecting the vessels proximal to the brain
What is the usual cause of a wet stroke?
Ruptured intra-cranial micro-aneurysm
What is the 2 main forms of treatment for a dry stroke?
Aspirin
tPA - tissue plasminogen activator - cleaves fibrin
Is carotid artery occlusion fatal?
It can be, but if only one carotid artery is occluded, the other artery can maintain blood supply to the brain as long as the circle of willis is patent
What is the primary cause of a subarachnoid haemorrhage?
Berry aneurysm in the circle of willis
Name 3 symptoms of a subarachnoid haemorrhage
Sudden loss of consciousness
Fast pain - headache/stiff neck
Kernig’s sign - patient in supine position, leg raised and bent at the knee - pain in the back is a positive Kernig’s sign indicating meningeal involvement
Describe the features of a subdural haematoma.
(Venous or Arterial)
(Fast or slow onset)
(Key symptom)
Venous
Slow onset
Loss of consciousness over hours/days
What is the typical aetiology of an extra dural haemorrhage?
Bleed in the Middle Meningeal Artery - normally due to trauma to the head
What is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis - an auto-immune disease characterised by demyelination in the CNS
Name 3 common effects of MS on the eyes?
Blurred Vision
Stabbing eye pain
Fading of the colour red
Name 3 common effects of MS
Ataxia Incontinence Dementia Blindess Spastic tetraparesis
Name 3 methods of management of MS
ACTH/Methyl Prednisolone 1g IV for 3-5 days
Physiotherapy
Vitamin B12 injections
Beta-Interferon
What is the definition of allodynia?
Pain from a normally painless stimulus
What is the definition of hyperalgesia?
Increased response to a painful stimulus