Neuromuscular Disorders

Question 1

How does cerebral palsy occur?

Answer 1

An insult to the immature brain before 3 years of age

Question 2

When can the insult causing cerebral palsy occur?

Answer 2

Before, during or after birth

Question 3

What is the most common type of cerebral palsy? Where is the damage to the brain?

Answer 3

Spastic: damage to the motor cortex

Question 4

Decreased coordination and balance is likely to occur in what type of cerebral palsy?

Answer 4

Ataxic (affects cerebellum)

Question 5

Athetoid cerebral palsy affects the basal ganglia. What does it result in?

Answer 5

Uncontrolled writhing

Question 6

Dystonic cerebral palsy affects the basal ganglia. What does it result in?

Answer 6

Repetitive movements

Question 7

What are some MSK problems which can occur in a child with cerebral palsy?

Answer 7

Joint contractures, scoliosis and non-congenital hip dislocations

Question 8

What is the most common type of spastic cerebral palsy? Where does this affect?

Answer 8

Hemiplegic- affects the ipsilateral arm and leg

Question 9

Diplegic cerebral palsy affects where?

Answer 9

Both legs

Question 10

An upper motor neurone problem causes what?

Answer 10

Weakness, spasticity and hyper-reflexes

Question 11

Baclofen and Botox injections are treatments for what?

Answer 11

Muscle spasticity

Question 12

What can spina bifida occulta result in?

Answer 12

High arched foot and clawing of toes

Question 13

A tuft of hair over the defect is most likely to occur in what type of spina bifida?

Answer 13

Spina bifida occulta

Question 14

What happens in spina bifida cystica?

Answer 14

Contents of the vertebral canal herniate through the defect

Question 15

Does herniation of the meninges through the defect in spina bifida cause a neurological problem?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

If the roots of the cauda equina herniate through the defect in spina bifida, what does this cause?

Answer 16

Motor and sensory deficit below the level of the defect

Question 17

What is the main treatment of spina bifida occulta?

Answer 17

Early closure within 48 hours of birth

Question 18

What is polio?

Answer 18

A viral infection of the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord/brainstem

Question 19

What does polio cause?

Answer 19

Lower motor neurone deficit (weakness, reduced tone, loss of reflexes)

Question 20

Where does the polio virus enter and what does it initially cause?

Answer 20

The GI tract- causes flu like illness

Question 21

Within 2-3 days the polio virus will cause what?

Answer 21

Paralysis of a group of muscles in one or more limbs

Question 22

Is sensation preserved in a muscle which has been paralysed by polio?

Answer 22

Yes