Neurological examination is assessment of sensory and motor to determine whether the nervous system is impaired.

• MMSE
• Cranial nerve exam
• Upper limb exam
• Lower limb exam

Dermatome is an area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve. Each of these nerves relays sensation (including pain) from a particular region of skin to the brain. It includes:

• 8 cervical nerves:
  • C1, being an EXCEPTION w/ no dermatome
  • C2
  • C3
  • C4
  • C5
  • C6
  • C7
  • C8
• 12 thoracic nerves:
  • T1
  • T2
  • T3
  • T4
  • T5
  • T6
  • T7
  • T8
  • T9
  • T10
  • T11
  • T12
• 5 lumbar nerves:
  • L1
  • L2
  • L3
  • L4
  • L5
• 5 sacral nerves:
  • S1
  • S2
  • S3
  • S4 and S5

Myotome are groups of muscles that a single spinal nerve root innervates. It is the motor equivalent of a dermatome. It includes:

• 8 cranial nerves:
  • C1 and C2, neck flexion/extension
  • C3, neck lateral flexion
  • C4, shoulder elevation
  • C5, shoulder abduction
  • C6, elbow flexion/wrist extension
  • C7, elbow extension/wrist flexion
  • C8, finger flexion
• 1 thoracic nerves:
  • T1, finger abduction
• 4 lumbar nerves:
  • L2, hip flexion
  • L3, knee extension
  • L4, ankle dorsi-flexion
  • L5, great toe extension
• 4 sacral nerves:
  • S1, ankle plantar-flexion/ankle eversion/hip extension
  • S2, knee flexion
  • S3 and S4, anal wink

YouTube video

Paperwork for the Neurovascular chart (extremity check) includes:

• Affix Pt label
• Diagnosis: ___
• Always compare with unaffected limb. Frequency of observation: hourly for first 24 hours, then ___ hourly
• Area of observation - please circle: Arm / Leg
• For the table, it is requested to Please mark with a dot, NOT a cross or tick. The table for its upper row indicates to write in Date and Time. Along the very LHS includes an indication (includes beautiful illustrations!) of the innervations of the various nerves, including the Median nerve, Radial nerve, ulnar nerve, Deep peroneal nerve, Tibial nerve; and the Motor function of various nerves, including the Peroneal nerve (Dorsiflexion of ankle), Tibial nerve (Plantar flexion of ankle and toe flexion), Median nerve (opposition of thumb and little finger, note if can flex wrist), Ulnar nerve (abduction of all fingers), Radial nerve (hyperextension of thumb and wrist). To the right are various categories including:
  • Sensation, including Normal for R and L, Pins and needles for R and L, or Numb for R and L
  • Movement, including Present (not to be checked post tendon repair) for R and L, or Absent for R and L
  • Color, including Pink/Natural for R and L, Pale for R and L, or Mottled for R and L
  • Temperature, including Warm for R and L, Cool/Cold for R and L, or Hot for R and L
  • Capillary refill, including Under 2 sec for R and L, or Over 2 sec for R and L
  • Swelling, including Nil for R and L, Slight for R and L, Moderate for R and L, or Severe for R and L
  • Pulse (indicating Which pulse ___), including Present for R and L, or Absent for R and L
  • Pain, including Score 0-10 for R and L, or Unrelieved with analgesia for R and L
  • Wound, relating to Bleeding/Ooze, Yes for R and L, or No for R and L
  • Authentication, with initials at the bottom column
• The reverse side is a repeat (dupe)

• Dermatome
• Myotome