Ataxia - Primary Cerebellar Causes

Your Path

  • Ataxia - Primary Cerebellar Causes

Etiology

  • Stroke
  • Tumor
  • Bleeding
  • Trauma
  • Genetic (e.g. Friedreich's ataxia, other)
  • Neurodegenerative
  • Toxic/metabolic→ etoh, other illicits, meds

Symptoms

  • Tremor
  • Difficulty with balance when walking, falls, lack of coordination, difficulty w/fine movements→ buttoning, drawing, picking up small items
  • Acuity of presentation varies w/etiology
  • Sometimes headache, nausea/vomiting, vertigo w/acute stroke

Physical Exam Findings

  • Wide based gait
  • Lurching/staggering to keep balance
  • Truncal instability
  • Impaired heel-to-toe walking
  • Difficulty with speech→ dysarthria (problems w/rate, rhythm and/or clarity of speech), overshooting when pointing and problems with coordination of fine movements, tremor, nystagmus