Neuropathies Flashcards
What is a neuropathy?
A pathology of a peripheral nerve (including cranial nerves)
What is a radiculopathy?
A pathology of a root of a spinal cord
What is a plexopathy?
A pathology of a nerve plexus e.g. brachial plexus
What is a mononeuropathy?
A single peripheral nerve being affected by a pathology
What is a polyneuropathy?
Several, symmetrical pathology of multiple peripheral nerves
What is mononeuropathy multiplex?
Lots of single nerve lesions e.g. two or more nerves affected
What are some of the mechanisms of injury that can cause neuropathies?
Demyelination e.g. GB syndrome Axonal degeneration e.g. toxic neuropathy caused by alcohol, drugs, toxins Infarction Compression Infiltration e.g. granulomas, malignancy
What two demyelinating conditions can cause polyneuropathies?
Guillian barre syndrome
Hereditary motor-sensory neuropathies
What industrial toxin can cause peripheral neuropathy?
Lead
What conditions can cause neuropathies by infarction?
Diabetes
Vasculitis
What is the main mechanism by which mononeuropathies are caused?
Entrapment e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome
What nerve is affected to cause a foot drop?
Common peroneal nerve
What nerve is affected to cause a wrist drop?
Radial nerve palsy
What common situations cause wrist drop?
‘Saturday night palsy’ - compression when slept on
Fracture of humeral shaft
What nerve is affected to cause a claw hand?
Ulnar nerve
What would cause ulnar nerve damage?
Elbow fracture
What are the causes of mononeuritis multiplex?
Wegener's disease Amyloidosis Rheumatoid arthritis Diabetes Sarcoid
PAN
Leprosy
Carcinomatosis
What symptoms would indicate a mononeuropthy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve?
Numbness of the lateral thigh
When is a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve usually caused?
Conditions with rapid-volume weight gain i.e. pregnancy
How would a femoral nerve neuropathy present?
Numbness of medial thigh, leg and ankle as well as weakness of hip flexion and knee extension
How would a sciatic nerve neuropathy present?
Weakness of hip extension, knee flexion, ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion, toe plantar and dorsiflexion and inversion and eversion of the foot
When might a sciatic neuropathy occur?
Pelvic trauma
Neoplasia
During surgery
How might an obturator neuropathy present?
Weakness of internal rotation of hip and hip adduction and sensory disturbance in the medial thigh
How can an L5 neuropathy be differentiated from an anterior tibial nerve neuropathy?
Ant. tibial nerve causes weakness of ankle eversion as opposed to inversion
