SHAHID

1. MD SHAHID

2.  Ataxia is a neurological sign consisting of
lack of voluntary coordination of muscle
movements that includes gait abnormality.
Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation
implying dysfunction of the parts of the
nervous system that coordinate movement,
such as the cerebellum.

4.  Age
 Sex
 Presenting complaints
 History of presenting illness
 Past history
 Family history
 Personal history
 Drug intake

5. Age of onset:
Childhood- Congenital, Metabolic, Infectious,
Hereditary ataxias
Adult- Sporadic ataxia, hereditary ataxia.
Course of illness:
Acute- Metabolic, toxic, infectious, inflammatory
Chronic- Genetic, degenerative, tumour,

6. Family history- Consanguinity
Personal history- Alcohol and drug
abuse, smoking.
Drug intake- Phenytoin, barbiturates,
lithium,immunosuppressants etc.

7. Look for the signs of cerebellar lesion:
 Involvement of anterior
lobe(paleocerebellum)
 Flail joints: lack of stability of joint.
 Pendular knee jerk: tapping of patellar
tendon produces oscillating movements of
leg.
 Ataxia: Inability in maintaining balance while
walking.

8.  Involvement of posterior lobe(neocerebellum)
Dysmetria –Inability to measure the
distance for reaching the intended
target.
Finger nose test
Finger finger test
Intensional tremor

9. Dysdiadochokinesia- Inability to do
alternate opposite movement rapidly like
supination and pronation.
Dysarthria/ scanning of speech-
speech is prolonged and with pause.
Rebound phenomenon- patient is unable
to check the action of agonist by corresponding
antagonist muscle.

10.  Involvement of flocculo-nodular
lobe(Archiocerebellum)
 Trunkal ataxia- Patient is unsteady while standing
and staggering while walking.
Test- Romberg test
 Nystagmus- Involuntary to and fro oscillatory
movement of eyeball while looking on either side.

18.  Ataxia is generally not curable but we just
ease the symptoms to make the patients life
better.
 Treat the underlying cause.