CNS

Stroke

History

Stroke any neurological loss, slurred speech, loss of function sensory or motor, neck stiffness etc… sudden or gradual?

Components; •Medications and allergies - past and current medications
e.g anti-convulsants, OC, steroids, anti-hypertensives, anti-coagulants

  • Presenting complaint
  • One or several? Useful to list.
  • Allow uninterrupted narrative, so far as possible

Clarify
Date of onset CNS

  • Frequency of recurrence
  • Duration of episodes
  • Evolution
  • Nature of main symptom, in detail
  • Tempo
  • Associated features
  • Triggers
  • Exacerbating/relieving factors CNS; Conditions which exacerbate and remit

- Treatments;

  • Patients may have taken drugs or other forms of therapy
  • Such drugs may not have been taken properly
  • adverse effects by themselves
  • worsened or alleviated the symptoms
  • no effect whatsoever except

HOPI

Symptoms are analyzed in relation to each other (further clarification of each symptom) and chronologically.

Onset: Sudden ,acute or gradual.

  • (acute, subacute, chronic, insidious)

Duration

Course:

  • Progressive
  • Stationary
  • Regressive
  • Fluctuating
  • Response to Tx

Associated symptoms
such as pain, Headaches, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, numbness, weakness, and seizures

AspectPain should be defined
SiteWhere is the pain? Or the maximal site of the pain
OnsetWhen did the pain start, and was it sudden or gradual? Include also whether it is progressive or regressive.
CharacterWhat is the pain like? An ache Stabbing
RadiationDoes the pain radiate anywhere?
AssociationAny other signs or symptoms  associated with the pain
Time CourseDoes the pain follow any pattern?
Exacerbating
Relieving Factors
Does anything change the pain?
SeverityHow bad is the pain?

Stroke

Common presenting complaints – Weakness on one side of the body. Facial deviation or asymmetry. Loss of consciousness.

History of presenting illness –

  • Start ((as my patient was apparently asymptomatic _ days back when he developed weakness on one side of the body.))
  • The weakness was acute/insidious in onset and gradually progressive/static in nature.
  • Activity Pt was involved in at the time when this weakness developed.
  • PT fell down and hurt themselves as the attack occurred.
  • What limb(s) or muscles affected; affected equally or not?
  • First time or a previous similar condition had occurred.

Examination - order

  1. General Appearance; posture, motor activity, vital signs and perhaps meningeal signs if indicated.
  2. higher mental status - Mini Mental Status Exam, including speech observation.
  3. Cranial Nerves (CN 1-12)
  4. Motor (bulk; muscle atrophy, fasciculation, tone, power)
  5. Sensory; Proprioception; *Cotton - close eyes both sides compare *
    • superficial; touch, pinprick, pressure, temprature
    • Deep: position sense, vibration sense,
    • cortical sensation: Stereognosis, graphesthesia
  6. Reflexes
  7. Cerebellar; coordination; rapid alternating movement - finger nose test, bradykinesia; gait
  8. Signs of meningeal irritation

Meningitis S/S (any of the following may be present)

  • Headache (may be more severe when lying down)

  • Fevers

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Stiff, painful neck

  • Malaise

  • Photophobia

  • Alteration in mental status (confusion, lethargy, even coma)

  • Kernig sign—inability to fully extend knees when patient is supine with hips flexed (90 degrees) caused by irritation of the meninges. Only present in approximately half of patients with bacterial meningitis

  • Brudzinski sign—flexion of legs and thighs that is brought on by passive flexion of neck for same reason as above; also present in only half of patients with bacterial meningitis

  • Jolt test—worsening headache when patient is asked to turn head back and forth quickly at frequency of at least 3 turns per secondMost sensitive and specific for acute bacterial meningitis.

1) General Appearance

The patient appears alert, well-groomed, and oriented to person, place, and time. No signs of acute distress are noted. Posture is upright, and gait is steady without any assistive devices. The patient maintains appropriate eye contact and follows commands without difficulty. There are no involuntary movements, tremors, or abnormal posturing observed. Speech is clear, coherent, and fluent, with normal rate and rhythm. Mood and affect are appropriate to the situation. No obvious signs of pain or discomfort are present during the examination.

2) Higher mental status

Alertness

Level of Consciousness (GCS)

Orientation
Person, Place, Time, & Situation

Appearance & Behavior

Cognitive function

  • Attention
  • Perception
    -Illusions = misinterpretations of real external stimuli
    -Hallucinations = subjective sensory perceptions in the absence of stimuli

Memory

  • Immediate, Short-term & long-term

Speech

  • Rate & rhythm
  • Spontaneity
  • Fluency
  • Simple vs. complex

Cognitive = content, sequence, logic, coherence, and relevance
Attention = ability to focus or concentrate (over time) on one task or activity; “serial 7’s
Varies with the patient’s age

Essential Features of Common Dysphasias

Scores

A) Mini–mental state examination

B) Grady Coma Scale

C) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCC) - Assessing  LOC

Assesses patient’s neurological condition

Three Categories:

  1. Eye opening
  2. Best motor response
  3. Best verbal response

Score Value range 3 -15

  • 3 totally comatose patient - lowest worst possible score
  • Score <8 Indicates coma
  • 9-12 Moderate altered level of conscious

3) CN examination

Simplified

①: Anosmia
②: Acuity, Field, Color
③,④,⑥: Diplopia, Ptosis, Squint
⑤: Sensory, Pain, Temp, Motor, Masticatication, jaw reflex ⑦: Sensory; Tast ant ⅔, sound sensitivity | Motor; Eye clos, Mouth close, blow, whistle, smile ⑧: Deaf, Tinnitus, Vertigo
⑨, ⑩: Dysph (phar), N. regur (palat), N. tone (palat), Hoarsn (lary)
⑪: Shoulder elev, neck side mov
⑫: Tongue movement

  1. The Olfactory Nerve CN I
  2. Optic Nerve CN II
  3. , 4, 6 Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens- CN III, IV, VI; H test
  4. Trigeminal Nerve CN V; light touch sensation, Clench teeth - observe masseter/Temporalis, Jaw Jerk
  5. Facial Nerve VII; Keep eyes closed against resistance, blow cheeks, show teeth
  6. Vestibulocochlear Nerve CR VIII Tuning test Rinne’s test; mastoid/ear & Webers test; forehead
  7. Glossopharyngeal Nerve CR IX Test gag reflex
  8. Vagus Nerve CR X Uvula Deviation
  9. Accessory Nerve CR XI Shrug shoulders, turn head against resistance
  10. Hypoglossal Nerve CR XII (same side) same as .. Tongue deviation

Cranial Nerves

CN I - Olfactory;

Smell test, close one nostril, test the other. Disease that effect it: - COVID 19, Cold, flu - Meningioma - Truama - Surgery - Frontal Lobotomy - Congenital - Kallman’s syndrome -FSH LG = Hypogonad, anosmia


CN II - Optic Nerve

Disease that effect it: - Multiple Sclerosis - Diabetes - Pituitary Tumor

Examination - Visual acuity - (snellen chart) - 6 meters, if negative, test with numbers of fingers, then movement of hand, then light stimulation otherwise the patient is light blind. - Ischehara test - Color blindness related conditions; (X-Linked, Digoxin or anti-tuberculosis; Ethambutol) - Visual Field - Confrontation test - stay in same level to the patient, test one eye, close the other same as you - let the patient stare at your eyes without any movement. pull your finger towards center to confirm first sight with finger shaking, use your visual field as reference point. - testing temporal outer and nasal from central

Its important to know diseases related to the damaged lesion; Aforementioned in this graph

Other Tests includes

Indirect Light Reflex Testing:

  • Use a dim torch as a light source rather than a phone to avoid excessive brightness.
  • optic nerve, following its pathway to the midbrain and the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, which relays information to the oculomotor nerve, resulting in pupillary constriction.

Accommodation Reflex:

  • Observes pupillary constriction when focusing on an object moving from a far to a near distance, assessing the accommodation ability of the eye.

Funduscopy:

  • For a direct examination of the patient’s fundus, align your eye with to the patient’s right eye - your left arm on left shoulder of patient.
  • Close your own opposite eye to avoid distraction and move closer progressively until you identify the yellow optic disc area surrounded by blood vessels.
  • During this examination, observe the light reflex, which can provide additional information on the reflective properties and health of the optic nerve and retina.

CN III, IV, VI -

Superior orbital fissure Signs: - H test switch fingers at middle - to test otherwise

Occulomotor nerve palsy: - SLE , - Diabetes, - Tumor from outside emergency for surgery - if no papillary reflexes - cavernous sinus thrombosis

MuscleInnervationAction
Superior RectusOculomotor nerve (CN III)Elevates, adducts, and medially rotates the eyeball
Inferior RectusOculomotor nerve (CN III)Depresses, adducts, and laterally rotates the eyeball
Medial RectusOculomotor nerve (CN III)Adducts the eyeball
Lateral RectusAbducens nerve (CN VI)Abducts the eyeball
Superior ObliqueTrochlear nerve (CN IV)Depresses, abducts, and medially rotates the eyeball
Inferior ObliqueOculomotor nerve (CN III)Elevates, abducts, and laterally rotates the eyeball
Levator Palpebrae SuperiorisOculomotor nerve (CN III)Elevates the upper eyelid
![[Note Pyramidal System-20240426004827251.webp292]]

CN V – Trigeminal Nerve

  1. Ophthalmic (V1) - Passes through the superior orbital fissure.

    • Supplies: Sensation to the forehead, upper eyelid, and cornea.
    • Involved in the corneal reflex: The afferent limb (sensory input) of the corneal reflex is through the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. The efferent limb (motor output, which closes the eye) is via the facial nerve (CN VII).
  2. Maxillary (V2) - Passes through the foramen rotundum.

    • Supplies: Sensation to the middle part of the face, cheek, upper lip, and upper teeth.
  3. Mandibular (V3) - Passes through the foramen ovale.

    • Supplies: Sensation to the lower part of the face, lower lip, and lower teeth. It also carries motor fibers to the muscles of mastication.
    • The anterior two-thirds of the tongue receives general sensation (not taste) via the lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular division.
    • Taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by the chorda tympani nerve (a branch of the facial nerve, CN VII), not the trigeminal nerve.

Examination process

  1. Sensory Testing:

    • Cotton Test: Use a soft piece of cotton to lightly touch different areas of the face. This tests the sensory function of all three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The patient should have their eyes closed during the test to rely solely on their sensory perception. Specifically, test:
      • The forehead, upper eyelids, and cornea (ophthalmic branch).
      • The cheeks, upper jaw, and upper teeth (maxillary branch).
      • The lower jaw, lower teeth, and part of the tongue for general sensation (mandibular branch).
  2. Motor Testing: power (Medial and Lateral pterygoid, temporalis, masseter)

    • Mandibular Movements:
      • Ask the patient to clench their jaw to test the muscles of mastication, assessing the motor function of the mandibular branch (V3).
      • Have the patient open their mouth and then move their jaw side to side, observing for any deviations or difficulties, which might indicate an issue with trigeminal motor function or asymmetrical muscle weakness.

buccinator supplied by facial

  1. Reflex: Jaw Reflex (afferent efferent) - Pure reflex Gently tap the jaw with the mouth slightly open to check the reflex. A normal response would be a slight and quick involuntary clenching of the jaw. An exaggerated response might suggest abnormalities in the reflex arc, which is primarily controlled by the sensory and motor roots of the mandibular branch.

    Corneal reflex (Afferent Opthalmic - efferent by facial)


CN VII - Facial Nerve

Course???

in middle ear gives two branches to chorda tympani & Stapedius (ear distrubance)

Innervations - External acoustic meatus - for sensation of ear - Motor - Movement of the face - Sternomastoid - branches nerve to stapedius - Loud sounds middle ear - & nerve to chorda tympani - Parasympathatic Submandibular & Sublingual gland

Tests - Temporalis - raise eye brows (dont use hands ) - Orbicularis Oculi - check for resistance when eyes close - Buccinator - Blow (palpate) - Levator Anguli Superioris - smile - Orbicularis Oris - whistle - Taste anterior 2/3 UMN Palsy - Causes Includes; (hyperreflexia) - stroke - MS - trumours - Internal capsule palsy - Eyebrow raise is normal - if botox, contraindicated for the test

LMN Palsy - Causes includes

  • Bells palsy
  • Cavernous sinus thrombosis
  • Fracture (truama) base of skull
  • Acoustic neuroma
  • Shingles
  • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome with skin lesioned shingles on face and ear due to varicella ,
  • Eyebrow doesn’t raise compared to contra-lateral

Bilateral facial nerve palsy - Sarcoidosis - Guillain-Barré Syndrome - Lyme disease

other notes botox mask symptoms of UMNL of facial nerve

most common causes of stroke? DVT - Stroke may transfer DVT to brain ASD - ventricular - patent foramin ovale


CN VIII - Vestibulocochlear

internal acoustic meatus enters to the skull depolization through potassium -

Cochlear division;

  1. Whisper on ear while other is closed - tell him to repeat to confirm.

  2. Rinne Test:

    • This test compares air conduction to bone conduction. A tuning fork is used initially to assess bone conduction by placing it on the mastoid process. It is then held near the ear canal to assess air conduction.
    • A positive Rinne test (air conduction is better than bone conduction) indicates normal hearing or sensorineural hearing loss.
    • A negative Rinne test (bone conduction is better than or equal to air conduction) suggests conductive hearing loss.
  3. Weber Test:

    • This test assesses bone conduction using a tuning fork, which is placed on the center of the forehead.
    • The purpose is to determine the lateralization of sound. Sound lateralization to one ear typically indicates sensorineural hearing loss in the opposite ear or conductive hearing loss in the ear to which sound is lateralized.

sensorineural causes - Neurofibromatosis type 2 - Noise pollution - Aminoglycosiedes - Gentamycin - Test, with ringing on frontal head - check for which ear hears most = laterilzation of normal side - Pendred Syndrome = Goiter + hearing loss (thyroid manifestations are rare, but may be presentaiton)

Conductive deafness - Wax / foreign objects - Otitis Media - - Tympanic membrane rupture - Otosclerosis. - Swimmers ear - Foreign body

Note

Fracture at the base of the skull can cause sensorineural hearing loss and bleeding, with lateralization. This is a result of conductive deafness, as the vestibulocochlear nerve passes through the petrous part of the temporal bone.

CN IX - Glossopharyngeal

Tests for Gag reflex Jugular foramen - Upper motor neuron palsy - glossopharyngeal special sense, pain and temperature autonomic to the parotid

examination by gag reflex with Glossopharyngeal & Vagus open mouth check uvula for Vagus for the tongue Hypoglossal

Main Causes - Neuralgias - Compression - Surgical

CN X - VAGUS

Cough, Gag reflex - UML pseudobulbar palsy, - hot potato speech
bulbur palsy; LML - appear as nasal speech

9,10,11,12 bulbar palsy - by speech

CN XI - Accessory

-shrug, head switch

XII - Hypoglossal

  • All intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of tongue except palatoglossus by vagus

  • UML - Pseudobulbar palsy; Hot potato; Spastic

  • LML Bulbar Palsy; Nasal speech, appear as Fasucilation; Flaccid

  • Tongue goes to the side which is damaged

  • then check power of intrisic muscles of the tongue

4) Motor

UMNs
Transmit impulses from cortical nerve bodies to:

  • motor nuclei in brainstem (CNs)
  • Anterior horn cells of spinal cord

LMNs
Transmit impulses from anterior horn cells through anterior root into peripheral nerves

  • Terminate at the neuromuscular junction

Motor Function Assessment

Inspection

  • symmetry
  • muscle bulk
  • size and contours
    • flat or concave; unilateral or bilateral; proximal or distal
  • atrophy

Palpation

  • muscle tone

Percussion fasciculations; Looks likes irregular ripples or twitches under the skin overlying muscles at rest commonly seen in LMN lesions.

They may be benign (physiologic) or drug induced (cholinergic).   Check motor strength

Body position

  • during movement and at rest

Involuntary movements

  • location, quality, rate, rhythm, amplitude
  • relation to posture, activity, fatigue, or emotions

Causes of atrophy

  • motor neuron diseases
  • disuse of muscles
  • rheumatoid arthritis
  • protein-calorie malnutrition

Causes of decreased muscle tone

  • disease of PNS
  • cerebellum dysfunction
  • acute spinal cord injury

comparing both sides to note abnormalities:

  • Bulk and nutrition of muscles.
  • Tone of muscles.
  • Power of muscles.
  • Reflexes.
  • Coordination of movements.
  • Involuntary movements.
  • Gait.

Test muscle strength

Grade 0 to 5

Muscle strength

  • wide variance - stronger dominant side
  • test by asking patient to actively resist movement
  • if muscles too weak - test against gravity only or eliminate gravity
  • if patient fails to move, watch or feel for weak contraction
GradeMuscular Respone
0No contraction detected
1Barely detectable flicker or trace of contraction
2Active movement with gravity eliminated
3Active movement against gravity (raise leg / arm)
4Active movement against gravity and some resistance
5Active movement against resistance without evident fatigue - “Normal”

Tone & Power

UL MOTOR EXMINATION

Tone Start proximally at the shoulder, feeling how easy the joint is to move passively. Then move down to the elbow, wrist and hand joints, again assessing each one’s tone in turn.

Power Start at the shoulder asking the patient to abduct and adduct against your hand so you can assess how much force they can overcome. Do the same for flexion and extension at the elbow and wrist, as well as the fingers; also checking abduction and adduction of the thumb.

LL MOTOR EXMINATION

Tone As with all examinations, the best method is your own – one with which you are comfortable and familiar. The one explained here takes the following format:

  • Tone.
  • Power.
  • Reflexes.
  • Function.
  • Sensation.

Power A full motor system examination includes assessment of the legs and the following format:

  • Tone.
  • Power.
  • Reflexes.
  • Function.
  • Sensation.

Start at the hip asking the patient to abduct, adduct, flex and extend against your hand so you can assess how much force they can overcome. Do the same for flexion and extension at the knee and ankle as well as the toes.

KNEE FLEXORS/ AND XTENSORS

Toe extention and flexion power assessment)

Toe extension involves extending the toes away the sole of the foot. The muscle of the toe extension is extensor digitorum longus, and the intrinsic foot muscles.

Toe flexion involves bending the toes towards the sole of the foot. The muscle and tendon involved in toe flexion is flexor digitorum longus and intrinsic foot muscles.

Hypotonia:

It is decreased tone and usually associated with muscle wasting,weakness and hyporeflexia.  Feature of cerebellar disease and occurs in early phases of cerebral or spinal shock

Hypertonia:

There are 2 principal types hypertonia; Spasticity & Rigidity

A- Spasticity: increased tone throughout range of motion, and then there is a sudden release (catch). Seen in UMN lesion. Spasticity is velocity dependent(sudden release).

Usually accompanied by

  • weakness
  • hyperreflexia
  • extensor planter response
  • clonus

B- Rigidity: increased tone throughout the range of motion. If intermittent and regular interruption to the movement gives jerky feeling, is called cogwheel rigidity, which is seen in extrapyramidal diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. Rigidity is not velocity dependent (continuous)

Function and Innervations

Other tests Hoffman’s sign is an involuntary flexion movement of the thumb and or index finger when the examiner flicks the fingernail of the middle finger down. This has sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 49% to screen for upper motor neuron lesion (UMN lesions).

5) Sensory / Proprioception

Spinothalamic Tract

Posterior Columns

  • Position and vibration
  • Fine touch
  • Synapse in medulla, cross & continue on to thalamus

Sensory specific testing

Peripheral Nerve Injuries

  • Median nerve = atrophy of thenar emminence
  • Ulnar nerve = atrophy of the hypothenar emminence

UL

Sensation

  • Testing light touch, pin prick, vibration, and joint position sense, or proprioception.

Light Touch

  • Ask the patient to place their arms by their sides with their palms facing forwards. Lightly touch the patient’s sternum with a piece of cotton wool so that they know how it feels.

  • Then, with the patient’s eyes shut, lightly touch their arm with the cotton wool. The places to touch them should test each of the dermatomes – make sure you know these! Tell the patient to say “yes” every time they feel the cotton wool as it

UL Proprioception/tuning fork test)

Vibration

  • To assess vibration you should use a sounding tuning fork. Place the fork on the patient’s sternum to show them how it should feel.

  • Now place it on the bony prominence at the base of their thumb and ask them if it feels the same. If it does, there is no need to check any higher. If it feels different you should move to the radial stylus and then to the olecranon until it feels

UL Proprioception joint position

Proprioception

  • Assess proprioception Hold the distal phalanx of the thumb on either side so that you can flex the interphalangeal joint.

  • Show the patient that when you hold the joint extended, that represents Up whereas when you hold it flexed that represents Down. Ask the patient to close their eyes and, having moved the joint a few times hold it in one position – up or down. Ask the patient which position the joint is in.

LL

(Lower limb touch and pain assessment)

Sensation Sensations to be tested include light touch, pin prick, vibration, and joint position sense, or proprioception.

Light Touch Ask the patient to place their legs out straight on the bed. Lightly touch the patient’s sternum with a piece of cotton wool so that they know how it feels. With the patient’s eyes shut, lightly touch their leg with the cotton wool. The places to touch the patient should test each of the dermatomes 

Lower limb proprioception JPS

Proprioception Hold the distal phalanx of the great toe on either side so that you can flex the interphalangeal joint. Show the patient that when you hold the joint extended, that represents Up whereas when you hold it flexed that represents Down. Ask the patient to close their eyes and, having moved the joint a few times hold it in one position – up or down. Ask the patient which position the joint is in.

Lower limb proprioception (vibration)

Vibration

To assess vibration, use a sounding tuning fork. Place the fork on the patient’s sternum to show them how it should feel.

Now place the tuning fork on their great toe and ask them if it feels the same. If it does, there is no need to check any higher. If it feels different you should move to the tibial epicondyle and then to the greater trochanter until it feels normal.

6) Reflexes

Deep Tendon Reflexes Hyperactive reflexes

  • suggest CNS disease
  • sustained clonus (confirms)

Diminished or absent reflexes

  • loss of sensation
  • damage to spinal segments
  • damage to peripheral nerves
  • diseases of muscles
  • diseases of the neuromuscular junctions

Spinal Reflexes: DTRsZ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DTXyIoXfJI

ReflexSegmental Level
Supinator ReflexesC5, 6
Biceps ReflexC5, 6
Triceps ReflexC6, 7
Abdominal reflexes - upperT8, 9, 10
Abdominal reflexes - lowerT10, 11, 12
Knee (Patellar Reflex)L2, 3, 4
Plantar Reflex - BabinskiL5, S1
Achilles ReflexS1 primarily
Anal ReflexS2 - S4
Plantar Reflex
Upgoing/extensor (Babinski positive)

Lower motor neuron lesion (Extensors are abnormal, Flexors are normal)

Deep Tendon Reflexes: Grading

GradeResponse
4+Very brisk, hyperactive, with clonus
3Brisker than average, slightly hyperreflexic
2Average, expected response; normal
1Somewhat diminished, low normal
0No response, absent

Jendrassik’s Maneuver Reinforcement technique Upper extremities

  • clench teeth
  • squeeze thigh

Lower extremities

  • lock fingers and pull one against the other

Other tests ANKLE AND PATELLAR CLONUS Clonus: is an abnormal reflex response that involves involuntary and rhythmic muscle contractions. Like other signs of upper motor neuron syndrome clonus indicates some insult to the central rather than peripheral nervous system, so part of its utility as a clinical examination skill is in differentiating the two.

Abnormal Movements

7) Cerebellar

Common causes

  • Trauma; RTA Post. Cranial Fossa fracture
  • Demyelination (Multiple sclerosis) - Myelin sheath gives whitish color, if destruction, neuron conduction would be slow (T2 enhancement MRI) “((tachycardia, ataxia, Lower motor neuron lesion, cardiomyopathy”
  • Tumor (Very rare, except meningioma) paraneuroblastic tumor, PCE, or Cerebellum itself + SOL- Irreversible damage
  • SOL manifestation - due abscess, tumor, etc..
  • Ischemia PICA Occlusion
  • Degeneration (Multiple system Atrophy)
  • Paraneoplastic syndrome if there is no manifestation to cerebellum due to metastasis
  • Drug Induced; (Alcoholism, Phenytoin)
  • Celiac disease

Coordination

Cerebellar disease

  • incoordination is worse with eyes closed

dysmetria

  • point-to-point movements are clumsy, unsteady, inappropriately varying in speed, force, & direction
  • may initially overshoot mark but finally reaches it

Cerebellar Function

Assessed by:

A) Rapid Alternating movements

  • First with hands
  • Repeat with feet
  • Diadochokinesia = ability to perform RAM
  • Dysdiadochokinesis = slow, irregular, clumsy movements

Cerebellar function (dysdiadochokinesis)

Co-ordination: Test for dysdiadochokinesis by showing the patient how to clap by alternating the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the hand. Ask them to do this as fast as possible and repeat the test with the other hand.

B) Cerebellar function (tremor & tone assessment)

Check for a resting tremor in the hands by placing a piece of paper on the patient’s outstretched hands.

Test tone in the arms (shoulder, elbow, wrist).

Cerebellar vs. Basal Ganglia lesions

RegionSigns and Symptoms
Cerebellar- Awkwardness of intended movements
- Intention tremor
- Ataxia
Basal Ganglia- Involuntary movements
- Resting tremor
- Chorea
- Athetosis
- Hemiballismus

C) Fingers-nose

Finger-to-nose with moving target

Stationary finger-to-nose with eyes closed

FINGER NOSE TEST

D) Heel-to-Knee Test

HEEL SHIN TEST

Perform the heel-to-shin test. Have the patient lying down for this and get them to run the heel of one foot down the shin of the other leg, and then to bring the heel back up to the knee and start again. Repeat the test with the other leg.

E) Romberg’s test

Station, Stance & Romberg’s Test

Station & Stance

  • Pt stand with feet together
  • First, eyes open

Romberg Test

  • Then, close eyes
  • If okay with eyes open, but sways w/ eyes closed = + Romberg
  • Mainly tests position sense
  • Vision can compensate for loss of position sense

F) Pronator Drift

Often performed in conjunction with Romberg test

  • Pronator drift
  • Muscular strength
  • Coordination
  • Position sense

G) Gait

\The cerebellar examination is performed in patients with neurological signs or symptoms of cerebellar pathology, for example: dizziness, loss of balance, or poor co-ordination. There are many causes of cerebellar dysfunction and include vascular, for example: stroke, space-occupying lesions, multiple sclerosis, and genetic conditions such as Friedreich’s Ataxia.

The cerebellar examination needs to reflect these symptoms and as such involves examining the gait, balance and co-ordination.

Tandem gait: The examiner asks the patient to walk in a straight line with the heel of the leading foot touching the toes of the lagging foot as if walking on a tightrope.

Gait TypeDescriptionCauses
Spastic GaitStiff, awkward movements with legs held close together and dragging feet.- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
- Brain injury
Scissor GaitLegs cross over each other while walking, resembling the motion of scissors.- Cerebral palsy
- Spinal cord injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spastic diplegia
Propulsive GaitStooped, rigid posture with small, shuffling steps, often leaning forward.- Parkinson’s disease
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Basal ganglia disorders
Steppage GaitHigh stepping, lifting the foot higher than usual to avoid dragging toes.- Peripheral neuropathy
- Foot drop (due to peroneal nerve injury)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
Waddling GaitSwaying from side to side, often with a wide stance.- Muscular dystrophy
- Hip dysplasia
- Myopathy
- Congenital hip dislocation
Tandem GaitWalking in a straight line, heel-to-toe, often used in neurological exams.- Cerebellar ataxia
- Alcohol intoxication
- Vestibular disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
Hemiplegic GaitOne leg is stiff and swings in a semicircle, with the arm on the same side flexed.- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cerebral palsy (hemiplegic type)
- Multiple sclerosis
Spastic Hemiplegic GaitSimilar to hemiplegic gait but with increased muscle tone and stiffness.- Stroke
- Cerebral palsy (spastic hemiplegia)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis

Other Notes

Spinal thalamic track

  • Posterior Column; Vibration/Proprioception
  • Anterior (ventral) Column; Touch
  • Lateral Horn; Temprature/Pain

UML vs LML ↑ ↓

  • Fasciculation ↓ = LMN
  • Bulk; ↓ = LMN
  • Tone - ↓ = LMN
  • Reflexes - ↓ = LMN
  • Babinski; Positive = UML
  • Power - ↓ UML & LML

Brown squart syndrome Lesion results in: Dorsal column lesion – Ipsilateral loss of light touch, vibration, and position sense Lateral corticospinal tract lesion – Ipsilateral upper motor neurons signs Lateral spinothalamic tract lesion – Contralateral loss of pain and temperature sense

DM neuropathy

  • staking pattern test on both legs

Physiotherapy neuro-plasticity to return the baseline

Cases

C1

Male 53 year old pakistani with known case of DM, HTN, occasional smoker for last 10 years, and sedentary lifestyle taking medication of aspirin, insulin, metformin, glavix with no known allergies

Patient previously admitted with chest pain, no hx of surgeries, family hx strongly positive cardiovascular comorbidity.

Presented to Clinic with 3d hx of numbness on right side of face and lt lower limb side of body, slurred speech which have improved

  • no dizziness
  • no vomiting
  • no chestpain
  • no joint pain
  • no fasiculation
  • no headache
  • no visual loss
  • no hearing loss
  • no muscle bulk even on induction
  • no fasciculation
  • no gastrointestinal, respiratory, or urinary abnormality

O/E; on examination

  • Patient is concious and orientated - GCS 15/15
  • slurred speech but improved
  • focal neurological loss
  • rinne’s test normal
  • power grade 5
  • normal reflexes (biceps, triceps, supinator, plantar, heel, knee)
  • no sensory loss at time of examination

in vibration you dont have to go in continuem from the toe exception of pain

Assessment

  • Stroke - focal neurological loss - Sudden onset, Progressive, slurred speech, cant move any leg - UML
  • SOL - visual loss/ headache; already ruled out from history
  • MS - usually female 40s with numbness, fatigue, eye pain, visual disturbance - with multisystem appearance - Convergence. - LML; already ruled out from history

Investigation

  • Check Vital signs; Make patient stable
  • basic investigation - cbc
  • CT - hemorrhage
  • MRI - for infarction; mri is not recommended in case of stroke, as it takes long time to take.
  • D dimer
  • Echocardiogram, cerebral angiogram, carotid US

Initial Treatment with stroke???

  • less than 4h- with thrombolysis
  • 4h - targeted thrombolytics - interventinal radiology thr

  • 6-7h - aspirin

C2

34 yrs male with known case of DM; possibly MODI, DM1 & HTN, hx of seizure 4D ago, right side weakness, headache, diplopia

o/e

  • RT upper/lower limb hypertonia
  • RT upper/lower limbs decreased power
  • No knee reflex
  • shock stasis
  • Equivocal RT

Investigations

CT: no abnormal findings finding

Differential

C3

headache for 3 days - - associated with photophobia constant for 3 hours before presentation - also theres hx of numbness with no seizure, no neck stiffness

C4

History

Make sure to include past Hx of travel; mecca & Surgery; cranial surgery

S/S/ | HOP
  • Altered mental status; most likely TB protein deposition
  • Vomitting
  • Neusea
  • Fever
  • Neck stiffness
  • Headache increases with neck movement
Examination:
  • B sign
  • Ta sign
Investigations:
  • LP - make sure to do CT, Fundoscopy to rule out sign of intracranial pressure
  • CT
  • Fundoscopy; Papilledema
  • Basic Investigations
  • Geimsa, indian ink, PCR
CSF Characteristics
Bacterial vs TB vs Viral Cell count differentials

Effective treatment for meningitis

treat as early possible with empiric antibiotics depending on age group

Q&A

Partially treated meningitis? Menningo encephalitis> Staph - vancomycin viral - acyclovir tb - anti tb rifa