Neurology and disorders of the nervous system

Patients always first undergo a neurological examination assessing their mental alertness, movements, postural reactions, spinal reflexes, cranial nerve function and pain sensitivity. Based on the examination, the problem can be traced to, for example, a specific area of the brain, the peripheral nervous system or part of the spine. Any necessary further investigations are then decided. Patients can also undergo MRI or CT scans.

Neurological disorders are divided into diseases of the central nervous system and diseases of the peripheral nervous system. The former include diseases in various parts of the brain as well as spinal cord issues, while the latter include diseases of the nerve roots, peripheral nerves and neuromuscular junctions as well as muscle diseases.

When investigating diseases of the peripheral nervous system, patients often give blood samples and undergo electromyograms and, if necessary, a conduction velocity measurement of peripheral nerves. The examinations conducted may also include samples of muscle or nerve tissue. 

Diseases of the central nervous system are studied with a number of devices, such as MRI and CT. When suspecting epilepsy, EEG can also be used. An audiometer is used if deafness is suspected. In addition, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s neurologists also perform brain and back surgery. At the neurology clinic, we also perform scanning under the official syringomyelia screening programme as well as BAER hearing tests.