Spinal Cord Disorders and Neurologic History

Symptoms may include vertigo, blurred vision, numbness, and episodes of loss of consciousness.

Cultural and language differences can complicate the interpretation of symptoms, as patients may use different terms or convey meanings that differ from the clinician's understanding.

Corroboration provides valuable insights that may clarify the patient's symptoms and experiences, especially when communication is impaired.

<p>Memory loss can impair the patient’s capacity to accurately describe their symptoms and experiences during the assessment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Clinicians should be familiar with assessing memory, language, insight, and overall neurologic function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Blurred vision' may indicate unilateral visual loss, transient monocular blindness, or diplopia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the basics allows clinicians to effectively screen for neurologic dysfunction, which is critical for patient care.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors like intoxication, aphasia, or psychological conditions such as anxiety or depression can impair communication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Encephalopathy or other significant clinical signs may indicate a need for a lumbar puncture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Antibody tests such as anti-SSA and anti-SSB are critical in diagnosing Sjögren's syndrome.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Patients with severe motor weakness and persistent areflexia usually have a poor prognosis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The severity of the deficits at presentation plays a crucial role in determining prognosis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tests for vitamin B12, copper, and zinc levels may be performed to investigate deficiencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The cerebral cortex and spinal cord are primarily involved in indicating MS in a young adult.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Symptoms that worsen after exposure to heat or exercise may suggest conduction block in demyelinated axons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both motor and sensory nerves could be primarily affected in a disorder of the PNS.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Myasthenia gravis is characterized by recurrent episodes of diplopia and dysarthria associated with exercise or fatigue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The visual phenomenon is termed fortification spectra, indicating spreading cortical depression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The neurologic history allows for accurate localization and determination of probable cause based on symptoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Decompression by laminectomy or a spinal fixation procedure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cerebrovascular diseases have a high number of global DALYs, totaling 143,232,184.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Examining these symptoms helps focus the neurologic examination and leads to better diagnostic accuracy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>If the patient has a radioresistant tumor causing high-grade spinal cord compression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Up to one-third of patients may experience recovery of motor function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A good response to therapy can be expected in individuals who are ambulatory at presentation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to identify thoracic meningiomas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can create instability that leads to further compression of the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The MRI shows altered signal characteristics within the spinal cord, indicating the presence of a tumor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The MRI shows hyperintense areas that indicate an infection or abscess in the spinal epidural space.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>High doses of glucocorticoids are administered initially to reduce inflammation and must be tapered slowly while monitoring clinical and MRI signs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Approximately one-quarter of myelitis cases have no identifiable underlying cause, and some may later show symptoms of an immune-mediated disease.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It presents as bilateral sensory symptoms, unilateral or bilateral weakness, and bladder and/or bowel disturbances.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging technique used to assist in the diagnosis of myelitis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Possible causes include infections, systemic autoimmune diseases, demyelinating conditions such as MS and NMO, and postinfectious myelitis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>ESR is a laboratory test that may show elevated values in inflammatory conditions but is elevated in only a minority of myelitis cases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A gallium scan may assist in the diagnosis by detecting inflammation in the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Viruses associated with myelitis include EBV (Epstein-Barr virus), HHV (human herpes virus), HSV (herpes simplex virus), and VZV (varicella-zoster virus).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The imaging shows an irregular hypointense mass replacing the posterior elements of C3 with peripheral enhancement compressing the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Common symptoms include fever, elevated white blood cell count, and progressive weakness or myelopathy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Broad-spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin are typically used empirically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Elevated sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein indicate inflammation, which can be a sign of an infection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Risk factors include impaired immune status, IV drug abuse, and infections of the skin or other tissues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Venous congestion and thrombosis can lead to further spinal cord damage and worsening myelopathy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After several days, irreversible deficits may occur due to extensive damage to the spinal cord.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Antibiotic treatment is typically continued for 6 to 8 weeks.</p> Signup and view all the answers