Truncal ataxia
| Truncal ataxia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Trunk ataxia, Ataxic gait[1] |
| Caused by midline damage to the cerebellar vermis | |
| Specialty | Neurology |
| Symptoms | "drunken sailor" gait characterised by uncertain starts and stops, falling |
| Causes | Spinocerebellar Ataxia (Lesion in Flocculonodular Lobe OR Vestibulo-cerebellum) |
Truncal ataxia (or trunk ataxia) is a wide-based "drunken sailor" gait characterized by uncertain starts and stops, lateral deviations and unequal steps. It is an instability of the trunk and often seen during sitting.[2] It is most visible when shifting position or walking heel-to-toe.[1]
As a result of this gait impairment, falling is a concern in patients with ataxia.[3]
Truncal ataxia affects the muscles closer to the body such as the trunk, shoulder girdle and hip girdle. It is involved in gait stability.[3]
Truncal ataxia is different from appendicular ataxia. Appendicular ataxia affects the movements of the arms and legs. It is caused by lesions of the cerebellar hemispheres.[3]
- ^ a b Dennis, Mark; Bowen, William Talbot; Cho, Lucy (2012-01-27). Mechanisms of Clinical Signs - E-Book. pp. 280–281. ISBN 9780729580755.
- ^ "NCBI Truncal ataxia". NCBI. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c Blumenfeld H (2002). Neuroanatomy through clinical cases. Sunderland, Mass: Sinauer. pp. 670–671. ISBN 0-87893-060-4.