Quantitative characterization of the dynamic ataxic disturbances in cerebellar ataxias

The great clinical polymorphism and the presence of transient forms of hereditary ataxias makes difficult their differentiation and nosological identification. A number of neurophysiological and neuroimaging methods contribute to the evaluation of multisystem disorders in terms of spinocerebellar degenerations (SCD). The aim of this study is to develop cranio-corpo-graphy (CCG) as useful method for visualization and quantitative assessment of dynamic ataxic disturbances. A control group of 12 healthy persons and a group of 11 patients with cerebellar ataxia (CA) were examined. Knee-heel, nose-finger and finger-finger tests were used with evaluation of different parameters-deflection from the optimal trajectory, amplitude of the deflection, accumulations on the optimal trajectory, dysmetry and oscillations at the onset and end points, asymmetry. The results show that for knee-heel test the most significant parameter is the maximal amplitude of deflections and for nose- finger and finger-finger tests - oscillations in the onset and end points. In conclusion: the quantitative evaluation of the listed tests represent a visualizing, objective and quantitative method for distant registration of dynamic ataxic disturbances.