Neuropathies

Question 1

What is a neuropathy?

Answer 1

A pathology of a peripheral nerve (including cranial nerves)

Question 2

What is a radiculopathy?

Answer 2

A pathology of a root of a spinal cord

Question 3

What is a plexopathy?

Answer 3

A pathology of a nerve plexus e.g. brachial plexus

Question 4

What is a mononeuropathy?

Answer 4

A single peripheral nerve being affected by a pathology

Question 5

What is a polyneuropathy?

Answer 5

Several, symmetrical pathology of multiple peripheral nerves

Question 6

What is mononeuropathy multiplex?

Answer 6

Lots of single nerve lesions e.g. two or more nerves affected

Question 7

What are some of the mechanisms of injury that can cause neuropathies?

Answer 7

Demyelination e.g. GB syndrome
Axonal degeneration e.g. toxic neuropathy caused by alcohol, drugs, toxins
Infarction
Compression
Infiltration e.g. granulomas, malignancy

Question 8

What two demyelinating conditions can cause polyneuropathies?

Answer 8

Guillian barre syndrome

Hereditary motor-sensory neuropathies

Question 9

What industrial toxin can cause peripheral neuropathy?

Answer 9

Lead

Question 10

What conditions can cause neuropathies by infarction?

Answer 10

Diabetes

Vasculitis

Question 11

What is the main mechanism by which mononeuropathies are caused?

Answer 11

Entrapment e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome

Question 12

What nerve is affected to cause a foot drop?

Answer 12

Common peroneal nerve

Question 13

What nerve is affected to cause a wrist drop?

Answer 13

Radial nerve palsy

Question 14

What common situations cause wrist drop?

Answer 14

‘Saturday night palsy’ - compression when slept on

Fracture of humeral shaft

Question 15

What nerve is affected to cause a claw hand?

Answer 15

Ulnar nerve

Question 16

What would cause ulnar nerve damage?

Answer 16

Elbow fracture

Question 17

What are the causes of mononeuritis multiplex?

Answer 17

Wegener's disease
Amyloidosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Diabetes
Sarcoid

PAN
Leprosy
Carcinomatosis

Question 18

What symptoms would indicate a mononeuropthy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve?

Answer 18

Numbness of the lateral thigh

Question 19

When is a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve usually caused?

Answer 19

Conditions with rapid-volume weight gain i.e. pregnancy

Question 20

How would a femoral nerve neuropathy present?

Answer 20

Numbness of medial thigh, leg and ankle as well as weakness of hip flexion and knee extension

Question 21

How would a sciatic nerve neuropathy present?

Answer 21

Weakness of hip extension, knee flexion, ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion, toe plantar and dorsiflexion and inversion and eversion of the foot

Question 22

When might a sciatic neuropathy occur?

Answer 22

Pelvic trauma
Neoplasia
During surgery

Question 23

How might an obturator neuropathy present?

Answer 23

Weakness of internal rotation of hip and hip adduction and sensory disturbance in the medial thigh

Question 24

How can an L5 neuropathy be differentiated from an anterior tibial nerve neuropathy?

Answer 24

Ant. tibial nerve causes weakness of ankle eversion as opposed to inversion