1. Ataxia & Cerebellar disorders

2. Ataxia
 Gross lack of coordination of muscle movements
 Types-
 Cerebellar
 Sensory- posterior column defect- stomping gait,
+ve romberg test
 Vestibular- acute- vertigo, nausea/vomiting
 Causes-
 Focal neurological deficit- CVA, MS, tumor, abscess
 Alcohol, drugs, toxins
 vit. B12 deficiency- SACD
 Peripheral neuropathy
 Paraneoplastic- breast, ovary, SCLC, Hodgkin’s
 Hereditary/congenital
 AIDS associated multifocal leucoencephalopathy

3. Signs of cerebellar disorders
 Ataxia- wide-based gait
 Decomposition of movement- inability to correctly
sequence fine coordinated acts
 Dysarthria- slurring & inappropriate phrasing
 Dysdiadochokinesia- inability to perform rapidly alternating
movements
 Dysmetria- inability to control range of movements
 Hypotonia
 Nystagmus- with fast component towards the site of lesion
 Scanning speech
 Intention tremor

4. Causes of cerebellar dysfunction
 Hereditary-
 Spinocerebellar ataxia
 Friedreich’s ataxia
 Congenital malformation- Dandy-Walker
 Acquired-
 Degenerative- multiple system atrophy
 Tumor- medulloblastoma, astrocytoma
 Systemic- alcoholism, hypothyroidism
 Drugs- lithium, phenytoin
 Toxins- heavy metals, carbon monoxide

5. Management
Dx- clinical + MRI
Rx- supportive &
of underlying cause, if
any

6. Management
Dx- clinical + MRI
Rx- supportive &
of underlying cause, if
any