Peripheral Nerve Lesions

Question 1

Double crush syndrome

Answer 1

existence of two separate lesions along the same nerve that create more severe symptoms than if only one lesion existed

Question 2

Mononeuropathy

Answer 2

an isolated nerve lesion; associated conditions include trauma and entrapment

Question 3

Neuroma

Answer 3

abnormal growth of nerve cells; associated conditions include vasculitis, AIDS, and amyloidosis

Question 4

Peripheral neuropathy

Answer 4

impairment or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves; associated conditions include diabetic neuropathy, trauma, alcoholism

Question 5

Polyneuropathy

Answer 5

diffuse nerve dysfunction that is symmetrical and typically secondary to pathology and not trauma. Associated conditions including Guillain-Barre syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, use of neurotoxic drugs, and HIV

Question 6

Wallerian degeneration

Answer 6

degeneration that occurs distally, specifically to the myelin sheath and axon

Question 7

Neurapraxia

Answer 7

Mildest form of injury
Conduction block due to myelin dysfunction
Pressure injury most common

Question 8

Axonotmesis

Answer 8

Grade 2 injury to peripheral nerve
Reversible injury
Damage to axon but no damage to epi/endo-neurium or schwann cells

Question 9

Neurotmesis

Answer 9

most severe grade to a peripheral nerve
axon, myelin, connective tissue components are all damaged or transected
irreversible injury - all motor and sensory loss distal to lesion is permanent.

Question 10

Upper Motor Neuron Disease

Answer 10

a lesion found in descending motor tracts within the cerebral motor cortex, internal capsule, brainstem, or spinal cord.

*Symptoms: weakness of involved muscles, hypertonicity, hyperreflexia, mild disuse atrophy, and abnormal reflexes.

Question 11

Lower Motor Neuron Disease

Answer 11

lesion that affects nerves or their axons at or below the level of the brainstem usually within the “final common pathway.”

*symptoms: flaccidity, weakness of the involved muscles, decreased tone, fasciculations, muscle atrophy, and decreased or absent reflexes