Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Hand weakness in elderly patients.

E W Massey1

  • 1Division of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.

Postgraduate Medicine
|March 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary

Hand weakness in the elderly often stems from neurologic issues. A structured approach, considering peripheral nerve compression and other conditions, aids diagnosis through clinical evaluation and imaging tests.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sural neuropathy: etiologies and predisposing factors.

Muscle & nerve·2006
Same author

Internal carotid artery dissection in stroke from SCUBA diving: a case report.

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2003
Same author

Sensory mononeuropathies.

Seminars in neurology·1998
Same author

Spinal cord infarction: etiology and outcome.

Neurology·1996
Same author

Treatment of radiation-induced nervous system injury with heparin and warfarin.

Neurology·1994
Same author

Presenting pulse pressure predicts thrombolytic therapy-related intracranial hemorrhage. Thrombolytic Predictive Instrument (TPI) Project results.

Circulation·1994

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Geriatrics
  • Anatomy

Background:

  • Hand weakness is a prevalent complaint among the elderly population.
  • Excluding joint and vascular etiologies is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
  • Nonspecific symptoms and complex hand anatomy necessitate a systematic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline a systematic anatomic approach for diagnosing neurologic causes of hand weakness in the elderly.
  • To differentiate between common peripheral nerve compression syndromes and other neurologic conditions.
  • To highlight the utility of various diagnostic tests in identifying the nature and location of lesions.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed patient history and physical examination.
  • Systematic evaluation of peripheral nerve pathways (median, ulnar, radial) for compression.
  • Consideration of other neurologic causes such as brachial plexus syndromes, cervical radiculopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis.
  • Utilizing diagnostic imaging and electrophysiologic tests.

Main Results:

  • Peripheral nerve compression syndromes (median, ulnar, radial) are frequent causes of hand weakness.
  • Other significant causes include lower motor neuron syndromes, cervical radiculopathy, and myasthenia gravis.
  • Diagnostic tests effectively aid in confirming or excluding suspected neurologic conditions.

Conclusions:

  • A systematic anatomic approach is effective for diagnosing neurologic causes of hand weakness in the elderly.
  • Peripheral nerve compression is a common, treatable cause that should be investigated.
  • Electromyography and various imaging modalities are essential tools for accurate diagnosis.

Related Experiment Videos