Which assessment would be appropriate for evaluating cerebellar function

The cerebellar examination is performed in patients with neurological signs or symptoms of cerebellar pathology, for example: dizziness, loss of balance, or poor co-ordination. There are many causes of cerebellar dysfunction and include vascular, for example: stroke, space-occupying lesions, multiple sclerosis, and genetic conditions such as Friedreich’s Ataxia.

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Procedure Steps
Co-ordination
How do you assess the cerebral function?
How do you check cerebellar?
Which test does not help to evaluate cerebellar function?
How should the nurse test cerebellar function?

The cerebellar examination needs to reflect these symptoms and as such involves examining the gait, balance and co-ordination.

Procedure Steps

Wash your hands, introduce yourself to the patient and clarify their identity. Explain what you would like to do and obtain consent

Gait

Step 01

Ask the patient to stand up. Observe the patient’s posture and whether they are steady on their feet.

Ask the patient to walk, for example: to the other side of the room, and back. If the patient normally makes use of a walking aid, allow them to do so.

Observe the patient walking

Step 02

Observe the different gait components (heel strike, toe lift off). Is the gait shuffling/waddling/scissoring/ swinging?

Observe the patients arm swing and take note how the patient turns around as this involves good balance and co-ordination.

Ask the patient to walk heel-to-toe to assess balance.

Walk heel-to-toe to assess balance

Step 03

Perform Romberg’s test by asking the patient to stand unaided with their eyes closed. If the patient sways or loses balance then this test is positive. Stand near the patient in case they fall.

Whilst Rombergs test does not directly test for cerebellar ataxia, it helps to differentiate cerebellar ataxia from sensory ataxia. In cerebellar ataxia the patient is likely to be unsteady on their feet even with the eyes open.

Romberg's test by asking the patient to stand unaided with their eyes closed

Step 04

Check for a resting tremor in the hands by placing a piece of paper on the patient’s outstretched hands.

Check for a resting tremor

Step 05

Test tone in the arms (shoulder, elbow, wrist).

Test tone in the shoulder

Test tone in the elbow and wrist

Co-ordination

Step 01

Test for dysdiadochokinesis by showing the patient how to clap by alternating the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the hand. Ask them to do this as fast as possible and repeat the test with the other hand.

Test for dysdiadochokinesis 1

Test for dysdiadochokinesis 2

Step 02

Perform the finger-to-nose test by placing your index finger about two feet from the patients face. Ask them to touch the tip of their nose with their index finger then the tip of your finger. Ask them to do this as fast as possible while you slowly move your finger. Repeat the test with the other hand.

Finger-to-nose test 1

Finger-to-nose test 2

Step 03

Perform the heel-to-shin test. Have the patient lying down for this and get them to run the heel of one foot down the shin of the other leg, and then to bring the heel back up to the knee and start again. Repeat the test with the other leg.

Heel-to-shin test 1

Heel-to-shin test 2

Conclusion

Finish by washing your hands and thanking the patient. Summarise your findings to the examiner and offer a differential diagnosis.

Common conditions include Parkinson’s disease and cerebellar ataxia.

How do you assess the cerebral function?

Diagnosis of Cerebral Dysfunction Diagnosis of the cause usually requires laboratory tests (blood and sometimes analysis of cerebrospinal fluid) and brain imaging, either structural (CT, MRI) or functional (positron emission tomography [PET], single-photon emission CT).

How do you check cerebellar?

Patients with cerebellar lesions are unable to execute rapid alternating movements properly. The examiner asks the patient to place the palm on the knee and then perform rapid alternate pronation and supination of the forearm. Affected individuals will have difficulty in executing such alternating movements.

Which test does not help to evaluate cerebellar function?

Romberg's test is used to assess for loss of proprioceptive or vestibular function (known as sensory ataxia). The test does not assess cerebellar function and instead is used to quickly screen for evidence of sensory ataxia (i.e. non-cerebellar causes of balance issues).

How should the nurse test cerebellar function?

Ask patient to fully extend arm then touch nose or ask them to touch their nose then fully extend to touch your finger. You increase the difficulty of this test by adding resistance to the patient's movements or move your finger to different locations. Abnormality of this is called dysmetria.