Neurology station Flashcards
stroke signs
Signs on inspection = circumducting gait, strong flexors in arms, strong extensors in legs, fixed flexed arm = pyramidal weakness, walking aids, wasted on affected side, increased tone/clonus, clasp knife spasticity, brisk reflexes and upgoing plantars
UMN signs
increased tone, increased reflexes, clonus, upgoing plantars contralateral
LMN signs
decreased tone, decreased reflexes, fasiculations, ipsilateral
pseudobulbar involvement
UMN Cranial nerves 9,10,12
Bulbar involvement
CN 9,10,11 = swallow and speech - aspiration and nutrition = PEG or NGT
LMN
What do you need to assess for in query stroke
Assess visual fields for Bamford classification
Assess pulse for AF and carotids for bruits.
how do you differentiate between bulbar vs pseudobulbar involvement
LMN would have fasciculations and wasting (bulbar)
stroke presentation
Today I performed a neurological examination on this gentleman. On general inspection he looked alert. He showed a circumducting gait on walking on the right with a flexed arm and extended leg. There was associated clasp knife spasticity, and hyperreflexia on the right. Clonus was present on the right, and plantars were upgoing. Power was 4/5 on the right. His left side was normal with power 5/5. These findings are consistent with a left sided partial anterior circulation infarct. I would like to take a full history, and feel his pulse for AF, listen to his carotids for bruits.
bamford classification
- TACS = total anterior circulation stroke = hemiplegia, homonymous hemianopia, higher cortical dysfunction
- PACS = partial anterior circulation stroke = 2/3 of above
- Lacunar stroke = hemi-motor or hemi-sensory stroke only
- Posterior circulation stroke = visual field defects
ACA
leg > arm
so may have fixed extended leg but normal arm
MCA
arm > leg
parkinsonism signs
Gait = shuffling, slow turn, asymmetrical limited arm swing
Face = expressionless, slow monotonous speech
Other = asymmetrical, pill rolling resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, cogwheel rigidity
causes of parkinsonism
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Lewy Body dementia (early dementia signs)
Multisystem atropy (if postural hypotension)
Supranuclear palsy (if palsy of eye movement)
Drug induced (if antipsychotics)
treatment of parkinsons
Conservative = carers, MDT, management of other comorbidities, optimising housing
Medical = Levodopa, co-carelodopa = reduced peripheral breakdown of dopa
Surgical = deep brain stimulation
Parkinsons presentation
Today I examined this gentleman’s neurological system. He was slow to start and slow to turn on walking. He had a shuffling gait with reduced arm swing on the left. He had a resting tremor in his left hand and there was marked rigidity on the left arm. Power and reflexes were normal. There was bradykinesia on examination of repeated movements. These findings are consistent with Parkinsonism. I would like to measure his lying and standing blood pressure, examine the eye movements, and perform an examination of his higher cognitive function to assess for the cause of his parkinsonism.
motor neurone disease signs
Mixed upper and lower motor signs
Fasciculations, increased tone, absent and brisk reflexes, upgoing plantars, bulbar or pseudobulbar tongue and speech
Normal sensory examination
motor neurone disease signs
Mixed upper and lower motor signs
Fasciculations, increased tone, absent and brisk reflexes, upgoing plantars, bulbar or pseudobulbar tongue and speech
Normal sensory examination
MND presentation
Today I examined this gentleman’s neurological system. He had reduced muscle bulk in all limbs and fasciculations. Tone was increased with brisk reflexes in the upper limbs but the knee and ankle jerk reflexes could not be elicited. Plantars were upgoing. There was globally reduced power in all limb at 4/5. Sensory examination was normal. These findings are consistent with a diagnosis of motor neuron disease. I would like to examine for bulbar involvement and take a full history.
DDx for mixed upper and lower signs
Motor neuron disease
Dual pathology e.g. peripheral neuropathy and stroke
Conus medullaris
B12 deficiency
Facial nerve palsy UMN
stroke = cerebral hemisphere lesion = contralateral + preservation of frontalis muscles FOREHEAD SPARED
Facial nerve palsy LMN
facial nerve lesion = ipsilateral and frontalis weakness = FOREHEAD AFFECTED
what is bells phenomenon
eyeball up and out to protect cornea