Truncal ataxia (or trunk
ataxia
Ataxia (from Greek α- negative prefix+ -τάξις rder= "lack of order") is a neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements that can include gait abnormality, speech changes, and abnormalities in e ...
) is a wide-based "drunken sailor" gait characterized by uncertain starts and stops, lateral deviations and unequal steps. It is an instability of the trunk and often seen during sitting.
It is most visible when shifting position or walking heel-to-toe.
As a result of this gait impairment, falling is a concern in patients with ataxia.
Truncal ataxia affects the muscles closer to the body such as the trunk, shoulder girdle and hip girdle. It is involved in gait stability.
Truncal ataxia is different from appendicular ataxia. Appendicular ataxia affects the movements of the arms and legs. It is caused by lesions of the
cerebellar hemispheres
The cerebellum consists of three parts, a median and two lateral, which are continuous with each other, and are substantially the same in structure. The median portion is constricted, and is called the vermis, from its annulated appearance which ...
.
Causes
Truncal ataxia is caused by midline damage to the
cerebellar vermis
The cerebellar vermis (from Latin ''vermis,'' "worm") is located in the medial, cortico-nuclear zone of the cerebellum, which is in the posterior cranial fossa, posterior fossa of the cranium. The primary fissure in the vermis curves ventrolatera ...
. There are at least 34 conditions that cause truncal ataxia.
Common
*
Alcohol intoxication
Alcohol intoxication, commonly described in higher doses as drunkenness or inebriation, and known in overdose as alcohol poisoning, is the behavior and physical effects caused by recent consumption of Alcohol (drug), alcohol. The technical ter ...
*
Cerebellar infarction
*
Cerebellar hemorrhage
*
Cerebellar ataxia
*
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...
*
Friedreich's ataxia
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a rare, inherited, autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, causing progressive damage to the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and cerebellum, leading to impaired ...
* Drugs such as
Benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepines (BZD, BDZ, BZs), colloquially known as "benzos", are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressant, depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed t ...
s,
Lithium
Lithium (from , , ) is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal. Under standard temperature and pressure, standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the ...
,
Phenytoin
Uncommon
*
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a genetic disorder, disease linked to the X chromosome. It is a result of fatty acid buildup caused by failure of peroxisome#Metabolic functions, peroxisomal fatty acid beta oxidation which results in the accumulation ...
*
Ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 1
*
Branchial myoclonus
*
Christianson syndrome
*
Dandy–Walker syndrome
*
Dysequilibrium syndrome
*
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...
*
Episodic ataxia
*
Post viral cerebellar ataxia
*
Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker syndrome
*
Machado–Joseph disease
*
Microcephaly
*
N-acetylaspartate deficiency
*
Neuhauser–Eichner–Opitz syndrome
*
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
*
Polymicrogyria
*
Rett syndrome
*
Spinocerebellar ataxia
*
Vertebral dissection
References
External links
NIH website
{{Nervous and musculoskeletal system symptoms and signs
Alcohol and health
Symptoms and signs: Nervous system
Multiple sclerosis