Neurology Diseases Clinical Guide

In the articles in this chapter, we will review some of the more common neurological disorders, address how to diagnose, initiate treatment for, and monitor these conditions. You’ll become skilled in the clinical diagnosis and management of Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain Barre syndrome, and will also discover how to differentiate Alzheimer’s from several types of reversible dementias. Inflammatory and degenerative disorders of the nervous system can feel intimidating, so we’ll focus on simplified approaches that build confidence and competency.

In this chapter’s articles, we will provide an orderly approach to handling patients with degenerative changes in the spine. We’ll focus on differentiating potentially serious conditions from those that can be managed conservatively. We’ll cover the evaluation of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar structural disorders and present indications for identifying spinal cord dysfunction (e.g., myelopathy). You’ll also discover how to rule out amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a differential diagnosis from other spinal disorders.

The articles included in this chapter discuss how to diagnose and manage common brain tumors. You’ll develop competency with the management of highly malignant tumors such as glioblastomas and metastases, and an appreciation for the challenges of handling pre-and postoperative patients afflicted with benign tumors such as meningiomas, pituitary tumors, and vestibular schwannomas. After reading these articles, you’ll feel prepared to review magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), initiate management for cerebral edema, prophylaxis against seizures, recognize steroid-related adrenal suppression, and address common complications of surgery.

In these articles, we will review some of the more common structural neurological disorders in children. You’ll discover how to differentiate between benign external hydrocephalus in infants and bona fide hydrocephalus requiring surgical intervention. We’ll review how to assess a child with an oddly shaped head, and distinguish between craniosynostosis or simple positional cranial molding. You’ll become aware of the potential complications of severe spina bifida as well as the signs of a tethered spinal cord in spina bifida occulta. After reading these articles, you’ll know exactly what to do for a child who sustains a head or spinal injury at a sporting event or practice, when they need urgent emergency care, and when they can return to play.