Ataxia & Cerebellar disorders

Ataxia Gross lack of coordination of muscle movements Types- Cerebellar Sensory- posterior column defect- stomping gait,

+ve romberg test Vestibular- acute- vertigo, nausea/vomiting

Causes- Focal neurological deficit- CVA, MS, tumor, abscess Alcohol, drugs, toxins vit. B12 deficiency- SACD Peripheral neuropathy Paraneoplastic- breast, ovary, SCLC, Hodgkin’s Hereditary/congenital AIDS associated multifocal leucoencephalopathy

Signs of cerebellar disorders Ataxia- wide-based gait Decomposition of movement- inability to correctly

sequence fine coordinated acts Dysarthria- slurring & inappropriate phrasing Dysdiadochokinesia- inability to perform rapidly alternating

movements Dysmetria- inability to control range of movements Hypotonia Nystagmus- with fast component towards the site of lesion Scanning speech Intention tremor

Causes of cerebellar dysfunction Hereditary- Spinocerebellar ataxia Friedreich’s ataxia Congenital malformation- Dandy-Walker Acquired- Degenerative- multiple system atrophy Tumor- medulloblastoma, astrocytoma Systemic- alcoholism, hypothyroidism Drugs- lithium, phenytoin Toxins- heavy metals, carbon monoxide

Management

Dx- clinical + MRIRx- supportive &

of underlying cause, if any

Management

Dx- clinical + MRIRx- supportive &

of underlying cause, if any