Rapid focused neurological assessment in the emergency department and ICU

In the emergency and critical care setting, a comprehensive and thorough neurologic examination can be impractical. The clinical context should therefore focus the examination on those features relevant to acute diagnosis and management. This article discusses how to direct the history and examination in patients who have focal complaints, possible strokes affecting the anterior or posterior circulations, neck or back pain, neuromuscular complaints, global symptoms, or nonanatomic complaints.