Ataxia
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Ataxia, defined as impaired coordination of voluntary muscle movement, is a physical finding, not a disease, and the underlying etiology needs to be investigated.
- Ataxia can be the patient’s chief complaint or a component among other presenting symptoms.
- Ataxia is usually caused by cerebellar dysfunction or impaired vestibular or proprioceptive afferent input to the cerebellum.
- Ataxia can have an insidious onset with a chronic and slowly progressive clinical course (eg, spinocerebellar ataxias of genetic origin) or have an acute onset, especially those ataxias resulting from cerebellar infarction, hemorrhage, or infection, which can have a rapid progression with catastrophic effects.[1]
- Ataxia is manifested by a wide-based unsteady gait, errors of extremity trajectory or placement, errors in motor sequence or rhythm and/or by dysarthria.1 Tone is usually decreased and stretch reflexes may be “pendular.” Nystagmus, skew deviation, disconjugate saccades, and altered ocular pursuit can be present. Truncal instability and tremor of the body or head may occur, especially with cerebellar midline disorders.[2]
This 3 minute video is very informative
Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
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Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]
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Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
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Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]
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Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]
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Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]
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Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
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Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Ashizawa T, Xia G. Ataxia. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2016 Aug;22(4 Movement Disorders):1208. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5567218/ (last accessed 8.2.2020)
- ↑ Brunberg JA. Ataxia. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 2008 Aug 1;29(7):1420-2. Available from:http://www.ajnr.org/content/29/7/1420 (last accessed 8.2.2020)
- ↑ Medski Ataxia Available from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri5iUR4Pi_0&feature=youtu.be (last accessed 8.2.2020)
