Internal Medicine - Page 54

Internal MedicineNeurology

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a clinical syndrome characterized by severe pain in the distal extremities accompanied by autonomic dysfunction. The sympathetic nervous system controls blood flow and helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure. Normally, when the body is injured, the sympathetic nervous system constricts blood vessels to prevent excessive blood loss from the injured area. Subsequently, the sympathetic nervous system dilates the blood vessels again so that blood can reach the damaged tissue for repair. In individuals with RSD, the sympathetic nervous system receives mixed signals. It activates after an injury but fails to deactivate, causing blood vessels to remain constricted. This leads to abnormal blood supply to the injured area, resulting in pain and swelling. RSD can occur at any age, but it is more common in adults. The main symptoms include pain, autonomic dysfunction, edema, motor impairment, and dystrophy with atrophy. Symptoms often appear rapidly within hours of an injury, or they may develop gradually over days or weeks, persisting for weeks to years.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Radiation myelitis

Radiation myelopathy refers to damage to the spinal cord caused by ionizing radiation. The main symptoms include reduced or abnormal pain and temperature sensation in the skin, limb weakness and spasticity, foot drop, and hemiplegia.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Radiation neuritis

Radiation neuritis, also known as radiation peripheral neuropathy, refers to peripheral nerve damage caused by radiation. The main symptoms include sensory disturbances, motor disturbances, and autonomic nervous system impairment (such as anhidrosis, piloerection disorders, and orthostatic hypotension) in the affected area.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Peroneal nerve palsy

The common peroneal nerve is one of the main branches of the sciatic nerve. Common peroneal nerve palsy is not uncommon in clinical practice, and is mostly caused by compression, traction, friction, or trauma. The main clinical symptom is foot drop, where the foot cannot be lifted when walking.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia refers to stereotyped, repetitive, persistent, and abnormal involuntary movements that occur in patients who have been on long-term antipsychotic medications (such as chlorpromazine) after dose reduction or discontinuation. These movements manifest as abnormal, involuntary, slow, and irregular movements of the tongue, lips, mouth, and trunk, or choreoathetosis-like movements.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Ulnar nerve palsy

The ulnar nerve is one of the twelve pairs of cranial nerves. Ulnar nerve palsy refers to ulnar nerve damage caused by various reasons, leading to motor and sensory impairments in the area innervated by the ulnar nerve. Typical manifestations include claw hand deformity, predominantly affecting the ring and little fingers, with the thumb often in an abducted position. Finger abduction and adduction movements are restricted, and little finger movement is lost.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Inclusion body myositis

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is an inflammatory myopathy characterized by rimmed vacuoles observed under light microscopy, either subsarcolemmal or centrally within muscle fibers, and filamentous inclusions observed within the sarcoplasm or nuclei under electron microscopy. It is a chronic inflammatory myopathy clinically characterized by progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, predominantly affecting males over 50 years of age.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Brachial plexus neuralgia

Brachial plexus neuralgia refers to pain in the distribution area of the brachial plexus due to damage to the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is composed of the anterior rami of the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th cervical nerves and the 1st thoracic nerve, primarily innervating sensation and movement in the upper limbs. Pain can be caused by inflammation, tumors, or direct injury to the nerves themselves.

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Internal MedicineNeurology

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is an acute disease caused by viral infection of the meninges. It can occur at any age, is more common in children, and often occurs in summer. Symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, and vomiting.

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