Neurology Mnemonics
C
Chorea: common causes: VITUS’S DANCE:
- Sydenhams
- Vascular
- Increased RBC’s (polycythemia)
- Toxins: CO, Mg, Hg
- Uremia
- SLE
- Senile chorea
- Drugs
- APLA syndrome
- Neurodegenerative conditions: HD, neuroacanthocytosis, DRPLA
- Conception related: pregnancy, OCP’s
- Endocrine: hyperthyroidism, hypo-, hyperglycemia
- Author: Bobby Varkey SCTIMST
Congenital myopathy: features: DREAMS:
- Dominantly inherited, mostly
- Reflexes decreased
- Enzymes normal
- Apathetic floppy baby
- Milestones delayed
- Skeletal abnormalities
- Author: Bobby Varkey SCTIMST
D
Dementia: reversible dementia causes: DEMENTIA:
- Drugs/ Depression
- Elderly
- Multi-infarct/ Medication
- Environmental
- Nutritional
- Toxins
- Ischemia
- Alcohol
- Author: Mohamed Azim Assistant lecturer of Pediatric Surgery, Alexandria University, Egypt
Dementia: some common causes: DEMENTIA:
- Diabetes
- Ethanol
- Medication
- Environmental (eg CO poisoning)
- Nutritional
- Trauma
- Infection
- Alzheimer’s
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
Dementia: treatable causes: DEMENTIA:
- Drug toxicity
- Emotional (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.)
- Metabolic (electrolytes, liver dz, kidney dz, COPD)
- Eyes/ Ears (peripheral sensory restrictions)
- Nutrition (vitamin, iron deficiencies/ NPH [Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus]
- Tumors/ Trauma (including chronic subdural hematoma)
- Infection (meningitis, encephalitis, pneumonia, syphilis)
- Arteriosclerosis and other vascular disease
- Author: Bill Lynch, originated by Dr. Jerome Yesavage Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center
E
Encephalitis: differential: HE’S LATIN AMERICAN:
- Herpesviridae
- Enteroviridae (esp. Polio)
- Slow viruses (esp. JC, prions)
- Syphilis
- Legionella/ Lyme disease/ Lymphocytic meningoencephalitis
- Aspergillus
- Toxoplasmosis
- Intracranial pressure
- Neisseria meningitidis
- Arboviridae
- Measles/ Mumps/ Mycobacterium tuberculosis/ Mucor
- E. coli
- Rabies/ Rubella
- Idiopathic
- Cryptococcus/ Candida
- Abscess
- Neoplasm/ Neurocysticercosis
- Neurocysticercosis should be assumed with recent Latin American immigrant patient unless proven otherwise.
- Author: Samuel Atom Baek-Kim Tuckahoe, NY
H
Head trauma: rapid neuro exam: 12 P’s:
- Psychological (mental) status
- Pupils: size, symmetry, reaction
- Paired ocular movememts
- Papilloedema
- Pressure (BP, increased ICP)
- Pulse and rate
- Paralysis, Paresis
- Pyramidal signs
- Pin prick sensory response
- Pee (incontinent)
- Patellar relex (and others)
- Ptosis
- Reevaluate patient every 8 hrs.
- Author: Ernest Boiselier, MD and Sung Kim Attending physician, ISSSTE, Juarez, Mexico
N
Neurofibromatosis: diagnostic criteria: ROLANDO:
- Relative (1st degree)
- Osseous fibromas
- Lisch nodules in eyes
- Axillary freckling
- Neurofibromas
- Dime size cafe au lait spots
- Optic gliomas
- Author: Balraj Jhawar The University of Western Ontario
Neuropathy: diagnosis confirmation: NEuropathy:
- Nerve conduction velocity
- Electromyography
- Author: Rinku S. Uberoi
O
Ocular bobbing vs. dipping: “Breakfast is fast, Dinner is slow, both go down“:
- Bobbing is fast.
- Dipping is slow.
- In both, the initial movement is down.
- Author: Parameswaran Doctor
P
Peripheral neuropathies: differential: DANG THERAPIST:
- Diabetes
- Amyloid
- Nutritional (eg B12 deficiency)
- Guillain-Barre
- Toxic (eg amiodarone)
- Heriditary
- Endocrine
- Recurring (10% of G-B) Alcohol
- Pb (lead)
- Idiopathic
- Sarcoid
- Thyroid
- Author: Ben Campbell University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand
R
Ramsay-Hunt syndrome: cause and common feature: “Ramsay Hunt”:
- Etiology:
- Reactivated
- Herpes zoster
- Complication:
- Reduced
- Hearing
- Author: Rinku S. Uberoi UNIBE
S
Stroke risk factors: HEADS:
- Hypertension/ Hyperlipidemia
- Elderly
- Atrial fib
- Diabetes mellitus/ Drugs (cocaine)
- Smoking/ Sex (male)
- Author: Rinku S. Uberoi UNIBE
Status epilepticus: treatment: “Thank Goodness All Cerebral Bursts Dissipate”:
- Thiamine
- Glucose
- Ativan
- Cerebyx
- Barbiturate
- Diprivan
- Author: D. Broughton, MD
V
Vertigo: differential: VOMITS:
- Vestibulitis
- Ototoxic drugs
- Meniere’s disease
- Injury
- Tumor
- Spin (benign positional vertigo)
- Author: J.G. Norris
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