Weakness Flashcards
What are the things to consider when assessing weakness
Onsent- rapid, slow onset
How has it progressed on how long did it last
What is the pattenr of the weakness
Upper and lower motor neurone pattern or neither
Any unusual pathogonomic features
If it was a sudden onsent what could this suggest
Vascular problem e.g stroke
What is episodic
Recurrent episodes and returning to normal between times
Examples of a disease that can cause episodic weakness
Myasthenia gravis
Relapsin remitting multiple sclerosis
What are the types of continous/progressive illness
Acutely progressive (hours) Intermediately progressive (days to weeks) Slowly progressive or chronic (weeks to years)
What can occur as acutely progressive
Myasthenic crisis
What can occur intermediately progressive
Tranverse myelitis
Gullian barre syndrome
Cervical myelopathy/cauda equina syndrome
What can occur slowly progessive or chronic
Primary progressive or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis
Cervical myelopathy/ cauda equina syndrome
Motor neuron disease
Inherited nerve/muscle disorder
Myopathies
What has a relapsing remitting trajectory
Mutliple sclerosis
In an upper motor neurone weaknnes which muscle group is stronger in the arms
Flexors stronger than extensors
In a lower motor neurone disease what muscle groups are stronger in the lefs
Extensors stronger than flexors
What are the patterns of weakness in a umn lesion
Hemispheric lesion
Brainstem lesion
Spinal cord lesion
When can a hemispheric lesion and brainstem lesion occur
Sudden onset- vascular e.g stroke, infarct or haemorrhage
Subacute or progressive e.g tumour or abscess
What type of pattern can occur in a spinal cord lesion
Sudden- Spinal cord stroke
Subacute- tranverse myelitis (cord inflammation)
Gradullay progressive: spinal tumour, spinal vascular process
What are the patterns of weakness in lower motor neurone disease
Polyneuropathy
Monomelic
