NEUROSURGICAL HISTORY & EXAMINATION Essam Elgamal FRCS(SN)
In conjunction with information from other systems, previous medical history, family and social history, current medications. Confirmation from relative or a friend.
History Headache Visual disorder Loss of consciousness Speech disorder Motor disorder Sensory disorder Sphincter disorder
History Lower cranial nerve disorder Mental disorder
HEADACHE Onset Course Duration Severity Character features Site Relieving factors Precipitating factors Timing Associated
VISUAL DISORDER Onset Course Duration Impairment Diplopia Hallucinations Precipitating factors
LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Onset Course Duration Tongue biting Incontinence Limb twitching Alcohol/Drug Abuse Head injury Cardiovascular or Respiratory symptoms Precipitating factors
SPEECH DISORDER Onset Course Duration Articulation Expression Understanding
MOTOR DISORDER Onset Course Duration Coordination Weakness Involuntary movement Relieving factors Precipitating Factors
SENSORY DISORDER Onset Course Duration Pain Numbness Site Relieving factors Precipitating factors
SPHINCTER DISORDER Onset Course Duration Incontinence Or Retention Bladder Anal
LOWER CRANIAL NERVE DISORDER Onset Course Duration Deafness Tinnitus Vertigo Balance/staggering Swallowing Precipitating factors
MENTAL DISORDER Onset Course Duration Memory Intelligence Behaviour Personality
Examination General: Neurological disease systemic signs Systemic disease affect nervous system
Examination Temperature Blood pressure Neck stiffness Pulse irregularity Carotid bruit/murmer Cyanosis Weight loss Breast lump Lymphadenopathy Hepatosplenomegaly Prostatic irregularity Septic source Skin marks Anterior fontanelle Head circumference
Conscious level Higher functions: Cognitive skills Memory Reasoning Emotional status Cranial Nerves
Upper & Lower Limbs: Motor; Status Tone Power Reflexes Sensory; Pain Touch Temperature Proprioception Steriognosis Coordination
GCS Eye Opening: Spontaneous4 To speech3 To pain2 None1
GCS Verbal response: Orientated5 Confused4 Words3 Sounds2 None1
GCS Motor response: Obeys commands6 Localising to pain5 Flexing to pain4 Decorticated3 Decerebrated2 None1
Cognitive skills (Dominant Hemisphere) – Listen to language HesitantExpressive dysphasia FluentReceptive dysphasia – Doesn’t understand Receptive – Cannot name objectsNominal – Doesn’t readDyslexia – Doesn’t writeDysgraphia – Numerical calculationDyscalculia – Cannot recognise objectsAgnosia
Cognitive skills (Non-dominant Hemisphere) Doesn’t find his wayGeographical agnosia Cannot dress himselfDressing apraxia Copy geometric patternConstructional apraxia Minimental function test
Memory Test Immediate Recent Remote Verbal Visual Rretrograde amnesia Post-traumatic amnesia
Reasoning and problem solving Compare with expected abilities Emotional state Depressed Anxiety Apathy Uninhibited Slowness
Cranial nerves I Olfactory II Optic Acuity Field Fundus Pupils III, IV, VI Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducent Ocular movement Diplopia Nystagmus
Cranial nerves V Trigeminal Sensory Motor VII Facial UMN weakness, LMN palsy VIII Auditory Cochlear component Weber’s test Conductive; louder in affected ear Neural; louder in normal ear Rinne’s test
Cranial nerves IX, X Glossopharyngeal & Vagus Gag reflex XI Accessory Sternomastoid Trapezius XII Hypoglossal
Motor system Asymmetry / deformity M. status M. tone Increased –Clasp-knife –Lead-pipe –Cog-wheal –Clonus
Motor system Power Grade 5Normal Grade 4 against some resistance Grade 3against gravity but not resistance Grade 2 elimination of gravity Grade 1 flickers Grade 0None
Reflexes Upper Limb Biceps C5,C6 Triceps C6,C7,C8 Hoffman sign Co-ordination Finger-nose test Finger-finger test Dysadiadocholinesia Arm bounce Rebound phenomenon
Reflexes Lower limb Knee Ankle Planter Coordination Romberg’s test Gait
Sensation Pain Touch Temperature Joint sensation Vibration Two point discrimination Sensory inattention (detect stimuli in both limbs) Streognosis Graphaesthesia
Sphincters Distended bladder Evidence of incontinence Anal reflex