T he limping child may present a significant challenge to the physician. In order to arrive at the correct diagnosis, the clinician must approach each patient in an organized fashion. In general, disorders that cause limping vary from age group to age group. This article will examine three different age groups relative to the disorders leading to gait disturbances. The three groups are toddlers...

Physiological and behavioral effects of evaluative handling procedures were studied in 72 newborn infants: 36 preterm (30-35 weeks of gestation) and 36 full-term neonates (39-41 weeks of gestation). While the neurological assessment was physiologically and behaviorally destabilizing to both age groups, preterm subjects had higher heart rate (P < .001), greater increase in blood pressure (P < .0...

• In the awake, asymptomatic patient who is without neck pain or tenderness, who has a normal neurological examination, is without an injury detracting from an accurate evaluation, and who is able to complete a functional range of motion examination; radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine is not recommended. • Discontinuance of cervical immobilization for these patients is recommended wi...

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a minimally obtrusive wearable system that can assess cognitive performance continuously throughout normal life activities by excitation of the peripheral nervous system and detection of the central nervous system response. The new concept was tested with one possible implementation as a device the size of a wristwatch which interrogates the subject by...

Two-point discrimination is widely used to measure tactile spatial acuity. The validity of the two-point threshold as a spatial acuity measure rests on the assumption that two points can be distinguished from one only when the two points are sufficiently separated to evoke spatially distinguishable foci of neural activity. However, some previous research has challenged this view, suggesting ins...

Proper motor performance at 3rd month is necessary for further motor development. The paper aims to demonstrate the reliability, sensitivity, and predictive value of an original motor performance assessment tool in comparison with the neurological assessment at 3, 6, and 9 months. Children (n = 123), born at term without pre- or perinatal complications, born at term with pre- or perinatal compl...

We conducted this study to determine the pattern of congenital malformations in twins born in our hospital over a 9 month period (January to September 2006). Gross congenital anomalies were recorded within 6 hours of birth by detailed clinical examination in all successively delivered ≥23 weeks twin babies, whether stillborn or live-born. Radiological and autopsy examinations were carried out a...

Normal values, as well as determining factors, for the 6-minute walk test are available for nondisabled adults, but less is known about individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). This study created a PD-specific reference equation and identified unique factors associated with 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Eighty individuals (mean +/- standard deviation [SD] age: 66.3 +/- 9.8 yr) with mild to mod...

The authors propose that the neurological exam needs reevaluation with respect to the dynamic balance test (walking). Validated tests such as: preferred and maximum gait speed, dynamic gait index, five-times-sit-to-stand test, timed up & go cognitive and manual, should be part of the neurological examination routine. In the neurological exam of older patients, these same bedside tests bring the...

Twenty active amateur boxers were studied seeking evidence of neurological dysfunction and, if present, the best method for detecting it. Seven of these boxers had an abnormal clinical neurological examination, eight an abnormal EEG and nine of 15 examined had abnormal neuropsychometry. The CT scan was abnormal in only one. An abnormal clinical examination correlated significantly (p less than ...