Brachial Plexus
Brachial Plexus TRAUMA: AVULSION AND STRETCH INJURIES KEY FACTS Nerve root avulsions are generally caused by traction injuries of the extremities (in the lower cervical spine, they are related to…
Scope of Neuroscience Nursing Practice
Scope of Neuroscience Nursing Practice Definitions and Distinguishing Characteristics of Neuroscience Nursing Practice Definitions Nursing is defined as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness…
Standards of Neuroscience Nursing Practice
Standards of Neuroscience Nursing Practice The standards published herein may be used as evidence of the standard of care, with the understanding that application of the standards is context dependent….
Infection Inflammation
Infection Inflammation ▪ ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (SERONEGATIVE SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY) KEY FACTS This disease occurs predominantly in young men and is associated with histocompatibility antigen B27. Ankylosing spondylitis is found in 1.4% of…
Congenital Malformations
Congenital Malformations MYELOMENINGOCELE AND MYELOCELE KEY FACTS Myelomeningocele and myelocele are both midline bone defects through which meninges and/or neural placode (unfolded spinal cord) are visible; most discovered by in…
Neurocutaneous Syndromes
Neurocutaneous Syndromes NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 1, ASTROCYTOMAS AND NEUROFIBROMAS KEY FACTS Autosomal dominant (chromosome 17) or sporadic (50%) disorder, ten times more common than NF-2; prominent cutaneous lesions, plexiform neurofibromas, and…
Degenerative and Latrogenic Disorders
Degenerative and Latrogenic Disorders PANTOTHENATE KINASE DEFICIENCY (HALLERVORDEN-SPATZ SYNDROME) KEY FACTS Rare autosomal recessive disorder (abnormal gene: 20p13); deficiency of pantothenate kinase leading to accumulation of cysteine, free radicals, and…
Intra-Axial Tumors
Intra-Axial Tumors Supratentorial Tumors ASTROCYTOMA, LOW GRADE KEY FACTS Account for 10% to 30% of cerebral gliomas in adults. Histologically, low-grade astrocytomas are fibrillary (diffuse), and over 80% eventually degenerate…
Vascular Disorders
Vascular Disorders ▪ SPINAL CORD CAVERNOUS MALFORMATION KEY FACTS Histologically, cavernous malformations are composed of dilated vascular sinusoids devoid of smooth muscle and elastic fibers; there are no normal intervening…
Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic Disorders AMINO ACID DISORDERS KEY FACTS In this rare group of disorders, amino acid pathways are deficient, and proteolipids, which are essential for formation of myelin, are abnormal. Phenylketonuria…
