Dr. Csébi Péter, Dr. Ipolyi Tamás Sebészeti Tanszék

Neurological examination is the most important part of the clinical evaluation of the neurological patient Auxilary examinations: Radiology, MRI, CT, Scintigraphy, ect. The neurological examination should be always performed slowly and playfully without causing unnecessary stress to the animal!

Define if the animals problem is neurological or not Define which part of the nervous system is affected Make the list of possible diseases able to cause the condition Make the diagnostic work-up plan in order to confirm the diagnosis

D egenerative V ascular I diopathic T raumatic, toxic A nomaly M etabolic I nflammatory/infectiosus N eoplasma, nutritional Discopathia Degenerative myelopathy Thrombosis Luxatio, fractura vertebtal malformatio FIP, Toxoplasma, Discospondylitis Lymphoma Osteosarcoma Menigioma

(Pelvic) fractures Patellar luxation Cranial Cruciate rupture Coxofemoral osteoarthrosis Bilateral Other diseases: myopathy, aorta embolisation

Observation Palpation/manipulation Cranial nerves Postural reactions Spinal reflexes Urinary function Sensory evaluation

1. Mental status 2. Behaviour 3. Posture, gait 4. Postural reactions 5. Head nerves 6. Spinal reflexes and 7. Pain perception

Posture must be evaluated while the patient is at rest. The position of the head, neck, back, and legs are evaluated. Head: Tilt/Twist Trunk: Abnormal muscle tone

Limbs: proprioceptive deficit, LMN or UMN lesion Increased tone in extensor muscles - UMN Decreased tone - LMN lesion Uneven distribution of weight - weakness or pain

Lameness Must be differentiated from monoparesis/monoplegia Circling Involuntary movement Tremor an involuntary, rhythmic, oscillating movement

Patient must be able to move freely on a non-slip surface Ataxia : failure of muscle coordination Dysmetria : improper range and/or force of movement Paresis : deficit of voluntary movement, but patient is able to walk Plegia : complete loss of voluntary ability to move, patient cannot stand, support itself, or walk Paralysis : complete loss of motor function, term used when cranial nerve function is completely lost

Postural Reactions: Proprioceptive Positioning Wheelbarrowing, Neutral and with Head Extended Extensor Postural Thrust Reaction Hopping Hemistanding/Hemiwalking Placing Reaction

The awareness of where the limbs are in space

Visual placing reaction Tactile placing reaction

Motor function Sensory function C1-C5 C6-T2 T3-L3 L4-S1 Tetrapatesis, tetraplegia UMN- all limbs Hypalgesiaall limbs Biceps, ext. carpi rad. triceps UMN- pelvic limb, LMN- thoracic limb Ataxia- all limbs Hypalgesiathoracic limb Paraparesis, paraplegia UMN- pelvic limb Patellar Sciatic, tibial cr. LMN- pelvic limb Ataxia- pelvic limb Hypalgesia/analgesia - Pelvic limb

Clinical signs correlate with the diameter of fibers, but not with the localization!

Forelimbs: norm/increased Hindlimbs: norm/increased Forelimbs: decreased Hindlimbs: norm/increased Forelimbs: decreased Hindlimbs: decreased UMN sign LMN of forelimbs UMN of hindlimbs LMN of all four legs Cerebral signs: Seizures, cranial nerve abnormalities No cerebral signs Encephaloptahy Spinal chord lesion C1-C5 Spinal chord lesion C6-T2 Multifocal spinal chord disease Neuromus cular disorder Vertebral fracture/luxation Disc herniation, Fibrocartilaginous embolism Meningomyelitis X-ray, CT, MRI Meningomyelitis CSF (liquor) tap, MRI, CT Polyradiculoneuritis Metabolic disorders Myasthenia polymyositis Blod tests

Spastic paresis/plegia Increased hindlimb reflexes Possible urinary retention Flaccid paresis/plegia Reduced to absent reflexes in the hindlimbs Possible urinary retention Possible urinary or faecai incontinence UMN signs LMN signs T3-L3 Vertebral fracture, luxation, herniated disc, fibrocartilaginous embolism L4-S2 Absence femoral pulse, cold limbs, pale or buish pads, reduction or absence of pain sensation : Cat Ischemic neuropathy following an aortic thromboembolism Xray, myelography, CT, MRI Ultrasonography: HCMP

Hit by a car 1 hour ago Lamness in the right thoracic limb No bears weight on the limb The paw is held in a knuckled-over position All other limbs ok, cranial nerves ok Ipsilateral Horner s syndrome on the right eye

Superfitial pain- absent (Deep pain- absent) Bicipital reflex- 0 Tricipital reflex- 0 Exstensor carpi radialis reflex- 0 Proprioceptive positioning- 0 Negative sensation on medial, lateral, cranial, and palmar aspects of the foot Ipsilateral Horner s syndrome

LMN injury Radial nerve paralysis And what about Horner s? The firs 3 thoracic segments contain neurons that from the symphatic nerves that innervate the eye.

Yesterday jumped down off the owner s kitchen counter

Paraparesis, pelvic limb Superficial pain- present (Deep pain- present) Patellar reflex- increased (bilateral) Sciatic reflex- increased (bilateral) Withdrawal reflex- increased (bilateral) Cranial tibial reflex- increased (bilateral) Proprioceptive reflex decreased (bilateral) Pain upon palpation of the spine overlying Th 12 -Th 13

Paraparesis UMN injury to the pelvic limbs

Native x-ray Myelography CT, MRI Diagnosis: Vertebral malformation Intervertebral disc disease

Other vet diagnosed bilateral hip dysplasia 3 moths ago. No diagnostic testing, got carprofen 2x/day Improved slightly but now is worse Signs: Difficult to get up, Bilateral hindlimb ataxia (worse on left side) Knucking over both pelvic limbs

Cranial nerves ok Thoracic limb ok Pelvic limb bilateral ataxia, with shores on the dorsal surfaces of both feet Patellar reflex- increased (bilateral) Sciatic reflex- decreased (bilateral) Cranial tibial reflex- decreased (bilateral) Proprioceptive reflex- decreased (bilateral)

Hip dysplasia- explain the signs? CEC (What is pseudohyperreflexia?) Discopathia intervertebralis Neoplasma Degenerative myelopathy Fibrocartilage embolism Discospondylitis

L4 L5 N. femoralis L4,5,6. N. obturatorius (L4), 5,6. N. gluteus cranisalis L6,7, S1. L6 CEC L7 S1 S2 S3 N. gluteus caudalis L7. S1 N. ischiadicus L6, 7, S1, (2) N. peroneus communis N. tibialis N. pudendus

Radiology Myelography CT, MRI