Brief posttraumatic loss of consciousness. Followed by recovery and a ‘lucid interval’ (between initial trauma and subsequent neurological deterioration). Leading to neurological decline with decreasing GCS. Finally, if untreated, death…
Toxic: Alcohol abuse and overdose with drugs, for example opiates. Metabolic/endocrine: Hypoglycaemia, hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma and diabetic ketoacidosis in diabetes; electrolyte disturbances, including hyponatraemia or hypernatraemia and hypercalcaemia; renal failure…
Remember: Cerebral metastases are the most common tumours in the CNS. History and Examination For presentation of specific tumour types, please see Appendices 1 and 2. The following are the…
Remember: Spinal injuries (see Chapter 35) are strongly associated with head injury. Ensure head-injured patients are immobilised in a hard cervical collar and log-rolled until the spine is cleared clinically…
Resting elbow on a firm surface (a desk or the base of a car window frame). Malpositioning/inadequate padding during surgery or while in a coma. • Elbow deformities. Congenital anomalies,…
Remember: Although the different syndromes in MND progress with a varying rate of evolution, eventually they overlap significantly and in late stages merge into a diffuse combined UMN and LMN…
Clinical Syndromes History/Examination Because of the anatomy of the cerebral vasculature, thromboembolic stroke tends to result in particular sets of symptoms and signs or ‘stroke syndromes’. Many of these are…
Remember: CSDH can occur in the elderly in the context of minimal trauma to head. Associations/Risk Factors Apart from blunt trauma and age >60 years, risk factors for CSDH include…
Remember the association between MG and thymus gland disorders. Pathology/Pathogenesis MG is mediated by antibodies (IgG) directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AchR) found on the postsynaptic membrane at the NMJ….
Remember the association between head injury and cervical spine injury and therefore the need to immobilise and log-roll these patients, until spinal injury is excluded clinically and/or radiologically as appropriate….
