Sensory ataxia

Sensory ataxia is both a symptom and a sign in neurology. It is a form of ataxia (loss of coordination) caused not by cerebellar dysfunction but by loss of sensory input into the control of movement.^{[citation needed]}

Sensory ataxia is distinguished from cerebellar ataxia by the presence of near-normal coordination when the movement is visually observed by the patient, but marked worsening of coordination when the eyes are shut, indicating a positive Romberg's sign. Sensory ataxia also lacks the associated features of cerebellar ataxia such as pendular tendon reflexes, scanning dysarthria, nystagmus and broken pursuit eye movements.^{[citation needed]}

Patients with sensory ataxia often demonstrate pseudoathetosis and Romberg's sign. They usually complain of loss of balance in the dark, typically when closing their eyes in the shower or removing clothing over the head.^{[citation needed]}

Causes

Sensory ataxia can be a manifestation of sensory large fiber peripheral neuropathies and conditions causing dysfunction of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord due to a variety of disorders: infectious, auto-immune, metabolic, toxic, vascular and hereditary diseases.^[1]^[2]^[3]

References

^ Spinazzi M, Angelini C, Patrini C (May 2010). "Subacute sensory ataxia and optic neuropathy with thiamine deficiency". Nature Reviews Neurology. 6 (5): 288–93. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2010.16. PMID 20308997. S2CID 12333200.
^ Sghirlanzoni A, Pareyson D, Lauria G (June 2005). "Sensory neuron diseases". Lancet Neurol. 4 (6): 349–61. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(05)70096-X. PMID 15907739. S2CID 35053543.
^ Moeller JJ, Macaulay RJ, Valdmanis PN, Weston LE, Rouleau GA, Dupré N (September 2008). "Autosomal dominant sensory ataxia: a neuroaxonal dystrophy". Acta Neuropathol. 116 (3): 331–6. doi:10.1007/s00401-008-0362-6. PMID 18347805. S2CID 22881684.

v t e Signs and symptoms relating to movement and gait
Gait	Gait abnormality CNS Scissor gait Cerebellar ataxia Choreic gait Festinating gait/Parkinsonian gait Magnetic gait Marche à petit pas Propulsive gait Stomping gait Spastic gait Truncal ataxia Vestibular gait Muscular Myopathic gait/Waddling gait Trendelenburg gait Pigeon gait Foot drop Steppage gait Toe walking Asymmetric gait Leaping gait Asynchronous gait Gunslinger's gait Hemiparetic gait Limp Antalgic gait Deformity Lotus gait
Coordination	Ataxia Cerebellar ataxia Dysmetria Dysdiadochokinesia Pronator drift Dyssynergia Sensory ataxia Asterixis Abasia Hemimotor neglect
Abnormal movement	Athetosis Chorea Tremor Fasciculation Fibrillation Myokymia Myoclonus Hyperkinesia / Hypokinesia Myotonia / Pseudomyotonia Hypotonia Stereotypy Akathisia Echopraxia Echolalia
Posturing	Abnormal posturing Stooped posture Camptocormia Osteoporosis Opisthotonus Spasm Trismus Cramp Tetany Hypertonia Joint locking Catalepsy Waxy flexibility Grimacing Tonic immobility
Paralysis	Flaccid paralysis Periodic paralysis Spastic paraplegia Spastic diplegia Spastic paraplegia Syndromes Monoplegia Diplegia / Paraplegia Hemiplegia Triplegia Tetraplegia / Quadruplegia General causes Upper motor neuron lesion Lower motor neuron lesion Sleep paralysis
Weakness	Hemiparesis Gowers' sign Locomotive syndrome Ptosis
Range of motion	Contracture Bethlem sign Club foot Joint stiffness Ankylosis Hypermobility Gorlin sign EDS HSD Boutonniere deformity Swan neck deformity Scoliosis Kyphosis
Other	Rachitic rosary Flat feet Overpronation/Flexible flat feet Knock-knee Bow-leggedness Back knee Hyporeflexia Hyperreflexia Clasp-knife response Shivering Hypnic jerk Astasia-abasia Vertigo Motion sickness Conversion disorder Shell shock Stupor Catatonia Dancing mania

v t e Focal lesions of the spinal cord
General	Myelopathy Myelitis Spinal cord compression
By location	Brown-Séquard syndrome Posterior cord syndrome Anterior cord syndrome Central cord syndrome Cauda equina syndrome
Other	Polio Demyelinating disease Transverse myelitis Tropical spastic paraparesis Epidural abscess Syringomyelia Syringobulbia Morvan's syndrome Sensory ataxia Tabes dorsalis Abadie's sign Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord Vascular myelopathy Anterior spinal artery syndrome Foix–Alajouanine syndrome

Causes

References

Further reading