I now have the full content of the CNS proforma. Let me construct a complete, detailed answer covering the stroke case proforma AND memory mnemonics for the entire proforma.
CNS Stroke Case Proforma - Complete Answer
OBSERVATION ON ENTRY
Gait: Hemiplegic gait (circumduction gait) - the patient drags one leg in a semicircle due to spasticity. Look for foot drop, ataxic gait.
Speech: Note dysarthria (slurred, poor articulation - orolingual weakness), dysphasia (language problem - dominant hemisphere lesion), dysphonia (hoarseness).
Involuntary Movements: Hemiballismus (contralateral subthalamic nucleus infarct), hemichorea.
HISTORY
Mnemonic for CNS History: "HOSC-MMMBBS"
Higher functions - Observation - Speech - Cranial nerves - Motor - Movement (coordination) - Meningeal - Bladder/Bowel - Sensory
1. PRESENTING COMPLAINT - Stroke Specific
Use mnemonic "SOCRATES" for any symptom:
Site - Onset - Character - Radiation - Associated features - Time/Duration - Exacerbating/Relieving - Severity
For Stroke specifically:
- Onset: Sudden (stroke) vs gradual (tumor/abscess)
- Duration: <24 hrs resolving = TIA; persistent = stroke
- Time of day: Morning on waking (thrombotic) vs activity (embolic/hemorrhagic)
- What was patient doing: At rest (thrombotic) vs active (embolic)
- Progression: Stepwise (thrombotic) vs sudden maximum deficit (embolic)
- Improvement: Improvement suggests TIA; worsening suggests extension
- Involved systems: Motor (limb weakness), sensory, speech (dysphasia/dysarthria), vision (homonymous hemianopia, amaurosis fugax), cranial nerves, bladder/bowel
- Seizures after the stroke insult
Mnemonic for Stroke History: "OD-TIME-CAMP"
Onset - Duration - Time of day - Improvement (TIA?) - Motor/sensory involvement - Evolution - Cranial nerve - Alteration of consciousness - Medications - Precipitating event
2. FUNCTIONAL HISTORY (ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING)
Motor - Upper limb: Can patient mix food, feed, dress, raise arm above shoulder, comb hair?
Motor - Lower limb: Can patient squat, sit from lying without hands, walk upstairs/downstairs, hold slippers, stand on toes?
Sensory: Can patient feel clothes on body? Feel temperature of water? Feel floor while walking? (Walking on cotton wool = posterior column loss; burning feet = small fiber neuropathy)
Cerebellar: Can patient reach for objects correctly? Walk straight on a narrow path (bund)? Sit from lying without swaying?
Bladder/Bowel: Urgency, frequency, nocturia = UMN bladder (spinal cord disease). Incontinence with coughing/sneezing = stress incontinence.
3. PAST MEDICAL HISTORY
- Hypertension - #1 risk factor for stroke
- Diabetes mellitus
- Atrial fibrillation (multiple tiny emboli)
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (CVA in young - recurrent miscarriages, vascular thrombosis)
- TIA / prior stroke
- Cardiac disease (valvular, IHD)
- TB contact (tubercular meningitis causing vasculitis/stroke)
4. DRUG HISTORY
- Antihypertensives, antiplatelets, anticoagulants (warfarin), OCP (CVT in young women)
5. FAMILY HISTORY
- Cerebral aneurysm, vascular disease, diabetes, hypertension
6. SOCIAL HISTORY
- Smoking (independent stroke risk factor), alcohol (neurotoxin), occupation, sexual history (syphilis/HIV causing CNS vasculitis)
GENERAL EXAMINATION
Mnemonic: "CPVN-LIPS"
Consciousness/GCS - Pallor, Icterus, Cyanosis, Clubbing, Edema - Vital signs (BP, Pulse, RR, Temp) - Neurocutaneous markers - Lymph nodes (supraclavicular) - Irregular pulse (AF) - Pulsations/bruits - Spine/neck
Key findings in stroke:
- BP elevated (hypertensive stroke)
- Pulse irregular (AF = embolic stroke)
- Carotid bruit (atherosclerotic stenosis - listen at angle of jaw with bell)
- Cardiac murmurs (valvular disease - embolic source)
- Neck stiffness (hemorrhagic stroke / subarachnoid hemorrhage)
Neurocutaneous markers: Port wine stain (Sturge-Weber), ash-leaf macules (tuberous sclerosis), cafe-au-lait spots (NF1)
Neck examination:
- Cervical spondylosis signs (restricted flexion/extension/rotation)
- Lhermitte's sign (electric shock on neck flexion = cervical cord disease)
- Supraclavicular bruits (vertebral/subclavian artery disease)
HIGHER MENTAL FUNCTIONS (HMF)
Mnemonic: "COHI-MSPD"
Consciousness (GCS) - Orientation (time, place, person) - Handedness - Intelligence - Memory (immediate/recent/remote) - Speech - Perception (delusions, hallucinations) - Dressing/praxis
GCS (important in stroke with altered consciousness):
- Eyes: 1-4 | Verbal: 1-5 | Motor: 1-6 | Total: 3-15
Memory testing in stroke:
- Immediate: Digit span (5-7 forward normal)
- Recent: Patient's address, what they had for breakfast
- Remote: Number of kids, year of marriage
SPEECH EXAMINATION
Mnemonic for types of dysphasia: "BWCG"
Broca's (expressive - non-fluent, comprehension intact) - Wernicke's (receptive - fluent but meaningless) - Conduction (cannot repeat; arcuate fasciculus) - Global (all speech functions lost)
Stroke localization by speech:
| Type | Area | Artery |
|---|
| Broca's | Inferior frontal gyrus (dominant) | MCA superior division |
| Wernicke's | Superior temporal gyrus (dominant) | MCA inferior division |
| Global aphasia | Large MCA territory | MCA main trunk |
Testing speech:
- Spontaneous speech - fluency, paraphasias
- Naming (confrontation naming)
- Comprehension (follow 3-step commands)
- Repetition ("No ifs, ands, or buts")
- Reading aloud
- Writing
CRANIAL NERVE EXAMINATION
Mnemonic: "Oh, Oh, Oh, To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet - Ah Heaven!"
CN I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII
Mnemonic for CN Function: "SSMSMM BSSABS"
Sensory only: I, II, VIII | Motor only: III, IV, VI, XI, XII | Both: V, VII, IX, X
Stroke-relevant cranial nerve findings:
| CN | Finding | Stroke Localization |
|---|
| II | Homonymous hemianopia | Contralateral PCA or MCA |
| II | Amaurosis fugax | Ipsilateral ICA/ophthalmic artery |
| III | CN III palsy + contralateral hemiplegia | Weber's syndrome (midbrain) |
| VI | Ipsilateral gaze palsy | Pontine infarct |
| VII | UMN facial palsy (forehead spared) | Contralateral hemisphere |
| VII | LMN facial palsy (forehead involved) | Ipsilateral pons (Bell's palsy pattern) |
| IX/X | Dysphagia, uvula deviation | Lateral medullary syndrome (PICA) |
| XII | Tongue deviation (LMN) | Medullary infarct |
Horner's syndrome (miosis, ptosis, anhidrosis) in lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome.
Key Pupil signs in stroke:
- Pinpoint pupils = Pontine hemorrhage
- Unilateral dilated fixed pupil = CN III compression (uncal herniation / posterior communicating artery aneurysm)
- Mid-position fixed pupils = Midbrain lesion
MOTOR SYSTEM EXAMINATION
Mnemonic: "IT-P-R-C-G"
Inspection (bulk, fasciculations, posture) - Tone - Power (MRC 0-5) - Reflexes - Co-ordination - Gait
Inspection
- Wasting: UMN = disuse atrophy (mild); LMN/myopathy = marked wasting
- Fasciculations: LMN disease (LMN sign)
- Posture in stroke: Flexed upper limb, extended lower limb (UMN pattern - Wernicke-Mann posture)
Tone - MRC Grading
- Spasticity (clasp-knife, velocity-dependent) = UMN lesion
- Rigidity (lead-pipe/cogwheel) = extrapyramidal (Parkinson's)
- Hypotonia = LMN, cerebellar, acute UMN (spinal shock)
Power - MRC Scale (0-5)
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|
| 0 | No contraction |
| 1 | Flicker of contraction, no movement |
| 2 | Movement with gravity eliminated |
| 3 | Against gravity, not resistance |
| 4 | Against some resistance |
| 5 | Full normal power |
Mnemonic: "No Flicker Gravity Gravity+ Some Full"
Key Muscles to Test (with nerve roots)
Upper limb:
- Deltoid - C5/6 (axillary) - abduction
- Biceps - C5/6 (musculocutaneous) - elbow flexion
- Triceps - C6/7/8 (radial) - elbow extension
- Wrist extensors - C6/7 (radial) - dorsiflexion of wrist
- APB (abductor pollicis brevis) - C8/T1 (median) - thumb abduction
- Interossei - C8/T1 (ulnar) - finger abduction/adduction
Lower limb:
- Iliopsoas - L1/2/3 (femoral) - hip flexion
- Quadriceps - L2/3/4 (femoral) - knee extension
- Hamstrings - L5/S1/S2 (sciatic) - knee flexion
- Tibialis anterior - L4/5 (deep peroneal) - ankle dorsiflexion
- Gastrocnemius - S1/2 (tibial) - ankle plantar flexion
Root mnemonic: "1234, 234, 45, 12"
Hip flex L123 | Knee ext L234 | Ankle dorsiflex L45 | Ankle plantarflex S12
Deep Tendon Reflexes
Mnemonic: "1-2 Buckle my shoe, 3-4 knock on the door, 5-6 pick up sticks, 7-8 heaven's gate"
Biceps C5/6 - Supinator C5/6 - Triceps C6/7 - Knee L3/4 - Ankle S1/2
Grading:
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|
| 0 (-) | Absent |
| ± | Present on reinforcement only |
| + (c) | Sluggish |
| ++ (cc) | Normal |
| +++ (ccc) | Hyperactive |
| ++++ | Clonus |
Reinforcement (Jendrassik maneuver): Interlock fingers and pull apart when eliciting knee jerk. Or clench teeth. Or distract with questions.
In Stroke (UMN): Hyperreflexia + clonus
Superficial Reflexes
- Plantar (L4-S2): Babinski sign positive (upgoing toe) = UMN lesion
- Abdominal reflexes: Absent in UMN lesion (or obese/lax abdomen)
- Cremasteric reflex (males): L1/2
CO-ORDINATION EXAMINATION
Mnemonic: "FRHI - ROMAN"
Finger-nose test - Rapid alternating movements (dysdiadochokinesia) - Heel-shin test - Intention tremor
Romberg's test - Ocular (nystagmus) - Motor/gait (ataxic) - Adiadochokinesia - Nystagmus
Cerebellar signs mnemonic: "DANISH"
Dysdiadochokinesia - Ataxia (gait) - Nystagmus - Intention tremor - Scanning speech - Hypotonia
Romberg's Test interpretation:
- Falls with eyes open = Cerebellar lesion
- Falls only with eyes closed = Proprioceptive or vestibular lesion (positive Romberg)
SENSORY EXAMINATION
Mnemonic: "PTTV-2S"
Painprick - Temperature - Touch (light) - Vibration - 2-Point discrimination - Stereognosis / graphesthesia (cortical sensations)
Spinal cord tract localization:
| Modality | Tract | Column |
|---|
| Pain, temperature | Spinothalamic | Anterolateral |
| Vibration, proprioception, 2-point | Dorsal columns | Posterior |
| Cortical (stereognosis, graphesthesia) | Thalamocortical | Parietal cortex |
Stroke sensory findings:
- Contralateral hemisensory loss - all modalities (thalamic or cortical)
- Crossed sensory loss (ipsilateral face + contralateral body) = Lateral medullary syndrome (Wallenberg)
- Cortical sensory loss (astereognosis, agraphesthesia, loss of 2-point discrimination with preserved primary sensation) = Parietal lobe
MENINGEAL SIGNS
Mnemonic: "KNOB"
Kernig's sign - Neck stiffness - Opisthotonus - Brudzinski's sign
Kernig's sign: Hip flexed 90° → extend knee → pain/spasm beyond 135° = positive
Brudzinski's sign: Passive neck flexion → reflex flexion of both hips/knees = positive
Significance in stroke context: Positive meningeal signs in stroke suggest:
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage (sudden thunderclap headache + meningism)
- Hemorrhagic transformation with blood in CSF
GAIT EXAMINATION
Mnemonic for gait types: "SCHAP-WF"
Spastic (hemiplegic - circumduction, stroke) - Cerebellar (ataxic, wide-based, reeling) - High-stepping (foot drop, lateral peroneal palsy) - Antalgic - Parkinsonian (shuffling, festinant) - Waddling (proximal myopathy) - Frontal (magnetic, small steps, NPH)
COMPLETE CNS EXAMINATION PROFORMA MNEMONIC
Master Mnemonic: "GOD HELPS CMS"
Gait on entry - Observation (speech, involuntary movements) - Detailed history (SOCRATES + systems)
Higher mental functions - Examination (general: BP, pulse, auscultation, neck) - Looks (neurocutaneous) - Pupils & Cranial nerves - Speech examination
Co-ordination - Motor (ITPRCG) - Sensory + Meningeal signs
STROKE CASE: TYPICAL FINDINGS SUMMARY
History: Sudden onset (seconds-minutes), unilateral weakness, facial drooping, slurred speech, hemisensory loss, visual disturbance. At rest (thrombotic) or on exertion (embolic). Risk factors: HTN, DM, AF, smoking.
Examination:
| Finding | Implication |
|---|
| High BP + irregular pulse | Hypertensive/embolic stroke |
| Carotid bruit | Atherosclerotic carotid disease |
| UMN facial palsy (forehead spared) | Cortical/subcortical stroke |
| Contralateral hemiplegia + spasticity | MCA territory infarct |
| Broca's/Wernicke's aphasia | Dominant hemisphere MCA |
| Homonymous hemianopia | MCA/PCA territory |
| Dysphagia + Horner's | Lateral medullary (Wallenberg) - PICA |
| Ipsilateral CN III + contralateral hemiplegia | Weber's syndrome - midbrain |
| Babinski positive | UMN lesion confirmed |
| Hyperreflexia + clonus | UMN (established stroke) |
| Absent abdominal reflexes | UMN |
QUICK REFERENCE: ALL MNEMONICS
| Section | Mnemonic |
|---|
| History order | HOSC-MMMBBS |
| Stroke history | OD-TIME-CAMP |
| Any symptom | SOCRATES |
| General exam | CPVN-LIPS |
| HMF | COHI-MSPD |
| Cranial nerves order | "Oh Oh Oh To Touch And Feel Very Good Velvet Ah Heaven" |
| Dysphasia types | BWCG |
| Motor exam | IT-P-R-C-G |
| MRC power | "No Flicker Gravity Gravity+ Some Full" (0-5) |
| Root levels | "1234, 234, 45, 12" (hip/knee/dorsiflex/plantarflex) |
| Reflexes roots | "1-2 biceps, 3-4 knee, 5-6 ankle" |
| Cerebellar signs | DANISH |
| Coordination tests | FRHI-ROMAN |
| Sensory modalities | PTTV-2S |
| Meningeal signs | KNOB |
| Gait types | SCHAP-WF |
| Full CNS proforma order | GOD HELPS CMS |
This covers the entire CNS proforma from your document in a stroke-focused format, with complete answers for each section and memory tricks to recall the order and content systematically during practical exams.