Neurology Flashcards
Patient with sensory loss in little finger and lateral half of ring finger.
weakness bending fingers, but can raise thumb vertically with good resistance
reflees preserved
which nerve was injured?
Ulnar nerve
supplies
* sensation to little finger and medial half of ring finger
* most flexor muscles in the hand ( not the thumb)
( sensory nerve distributionL RUM
neuropathic pain management
1st line
rescue therapy in exacerbations
topical management
non-medical option
1ST Line: amitriptyline, duloxetine, gabapentin, pregabalin
* neupathic pain analgesis are montherapy - if one doesnt work, swith to another ( no compounding)
rescue therapy - tramadol
localised - topoical capsaicin ( e.g. post-herpetic neuralgia)
non0medical - pain clinic
defective downward gaze and vertical diplopia is caused by danmage to what nerve
ipsilateral CN IV ( trochlear)
Pt with double vision, worse going down stairs. On inspection, the left eye is deviated laterally. What CN is the cause
L trochlear
Palsy – defective downward gaze & vertical diplopia
LR6SO4 , rest of mvmts are occulomotor
abducens nerve oalsy
ipsilateral medially deviated eye
LR6SO4
lateral rectus function lost –> cannot pul laterally –> mediallyu deviated eye
appearance of CNIII palsy
isposilateral down and out
LR6SO4, everything else uis occuulomotor
so LR6 functions ( out) and SO4 functions (down)
define
- TIA
- crescendo TIA
TIA - transient neurological dysfunction secondary to ischaemia without infarction
crescendo TIA - >=2TIAs in a week ( high stroke risk)
stroke management
- where to admit
- what dDx to exclude
- Ix
- Rx
- stroke centre
exclude hypoglycaemioa - CT brain 9 exclude intracerebral haemorrhage)
Aspririn 300mg stat (post CT), 14 days
most common type of stroke
ischaemic ( 85%)
A patient with generalised headache, fluctuating GCS and history of alcohol abuse. What type of stroke are they likely to have had and how would this appear on a CT
subdural haemorrhage ( bridging veins )
star shaped - SAH
crescent shape - bridging veins subdural
lemon shape - epidural (EGGsrradural - extradural)
Medical thrombectomy in ischaemia is performed using
(med)
(mechanism o action)
(window of opportunity)
alteplase
tissue plasminogen activator (rapid clot breakdown)
within 4.5 hrs of storke onset
3 featyures of TIA managment
300mg Aspirin daily
2ndary CVD prevention (statins)
24hr referral to stroke specialist
ischaemic stroke doses and durations
Aspirin
clopidogrel ( alternative)
Atorvastatin
Aspirin 300mg 14 days
clopidogrel 75mg OD / Dipyridamole 200mg BD)
Atorvastatin 80mg
sections of the “eye” section of GCS
spontaneous opening = 4
speech = 3
Pain = 2
None=1
what are the 3 sections of the GCS and the points for each
eyes = 4
voice response = 5
Motor response = 6
sections of the “verbal” section of GCS
oriented = 5
confused conversation - 4
innappropiate words =3
incomprehensible = 2
none = 1
sections of the “motor response “ section of GCS
obeys commands = 6
localises pain - 5
normal flexion - 4
abnormal flexion - 3
extension - 2
none- 1
two groups of people in which subdurals are more common
elderly
alcoholics
brain atrophy - increased likelihood of bridging veins tearing
30 yo man collapses when playing rugby. He is taken to the stroke unit with unilateral weakness and headache. The CT shows a lemon shaped bleed, which does not cross the sutures, what artery is most likely to have been ruptured
middle meningeal
this is an extradural haemorrhage (EGGstradural)
- associated w/ temporal bone fracture
-CT - biconvex shape, limpited by the cranial sutures
-Typical pt: young pt, traumatic head injury & ongoing headache. Has a period of improved neurological Sx followed by rapid decline over hrs ( bleed begins to compress)
where dose subarachnoid bleeds occur
bleed into subarachnoid space - where cerebrospinal fluid is located
most commonly ruptured brain aneurysm
typical presentation
- sudden onset OCCIPITAL headache
- during strenuous activity ( sex/weight lifting
2 key risks associated with SAH
cocaine
sickle cell anaemia
5 features of “thunderclap headache” in SAH
- occipital headache
- Neck stiffness
- Photophobia
- Vision changes
???meningitis??? - Neuro Sx (speech, weakness, seizure, LOC)
A pt is brought to the stroke specialist unit with a suspected SAH (sudden extreme occipital pain, meningism and weakness). The 1st line Ix is conducted but is negative. what other test should be used, give the 2 findings suggesgting SAH
1st lien - CT
2nd - CSF
- RCC raised
- Xanthochromia (yellow due to bilirubin)
SAH Mx
MDT supportive Mx
reduced conciousness - intubate & ventilate
surgical intervention (coiling/clipping) - Tx aneurysm
Nimodipine - CCP, prevents vasospasm ( which causes ischaemia)
hydrocephalus - LP/shunt