Upper Limb Neurological Examination – OSCE Guide

geekymedics.com /upper-limb-neurological-examination/

10/2/2010

Upper limb neurological examination frequently appears in OSCEs. You’ll be expected to pick up the relevant
clinical signs using your examination skills. This upper limb neurological examination OSCE guide provides a clear
step by step approach to examining the neurology of the upper limbs, with an included video demonstration. Check
out the upper limb neurological examination mark scheme here.

The main point of a neurological examination is to localise where in the nervous system the problem is. This can
seem daunting, but with practice it is relatively straightforward. The most basic localisation question you have to
think about during the upper (and lower) limb examination is:

Is there an upper motor neurone (UMN) lesion? – i.e. in the brain or spine
Or is there a lower motor lesion (LMN)? – i.e. in the nerve roots, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction
or muscle

The following is a summary of some basic UMN and LMN signs that you should be looking out for during
the upper and lower limb examinations:

UMN signs LMN signs

Inspection No fasciculation or significant wasting Wasting and fasciculation of muscles

(may be some disuse atrophy or
contractures)

Pronator May be present May be some drift/movement of arm(s) if weak or de-

drift afferented, but not pronator

Tone Increased (spasticity) +/- ankle clonus Decreased (hypotonia) or normal

Power Classically a “pyramidal” pattern of Different patterns of weakness, depending on cause e.g.
weakness (extensors weaker than classically a proximal weakness in muscle disease, a
flexors in arms, and vice versa in legs) distal weakness in peripheral neuropathy

Reflexes Exaggerated or brisk (hyper-reflexia) Reduced or absent (hyporeflexia or areflexia)

Plantar Upgoing/extensor (Babinski positive) Normal (downgoing/flexor)

reflexes

Introduction
Wash hands

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Introduce yourself

Confirm patient details – name / DOB

Explain examination

Gain consent

Expose patient’s arms fully

Ask it the patient currently has any pain

Gather equipment
Tendon hammer
Neurotip
Cotton wool
Tuning fork (128Hz)

Inspection
Observe for clues around the bed – wheelchair / walking stick / urinary catheter

General appearance – any limb deformity or posturing?

Scars
Wasting of muscles
Involuntary movements – dystonia / chorea / myoclonus
Fasciculations
Tremor – Parkinson’s disease / essential tremor

Don’t forget to look at the face for clues e.g hypomimia (lack of expression) in Parkinson’s disease, ptosis and frontal
balding in myotonic dystrophy, ptosis and ophthalmoplegia in myasthenia gravis.

Pronator drift

1. Ask the patient to close their eyes and place arms outstretched forwards with palms facing up.

2. Observe the hands and arms for signs of pronation.

If pronation occurs in one of the arms, it indicates upper motor neuron (UMN) pathology.

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 General inspection

Pronator drift

1. 1
2. 2

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Tone
Ask the patient to let their arm go floppy, whilst you move each major joint.

1. Support the patient’s arm by holding their hand and elbow

2. Move the wrist through its full range of motion

3. Pronate and supinate the forearm – feel for any spasticity (“spastic catch”)

4. Flex and extend the elbow joint

5. Flex/extend/abduct/adduct the shoulder joint

Note the character of the movement – smooth / ↑tone/ ↓ tone (flaccid)

Feel for rigidity and cogwheeling – indicative of Parkinson’s disease

Spasticity indicates an UMN lesion and rigidity indicates an extrapyramidal lesion (Parkinsonism). Tone is
increased in both of them, …what’s the difference???

Spasticity is “velocity dependent” i.e. the faster you move the limb, the worse it is. This is why you get the
“spastic catch”
Rigidity is “velocity independent” i.e. it feels the same if you move the limb fast or slowly. This is termed “lead
pipe rigidity”

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 Assess tone

Assess tone

Assess shoulder tone

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3

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Power
Assess power one side at a time and compare like for like.

Remember to stabilise and isolate the joint when testing.

The following is a test of some of the main movements of the upper limbs, sufficient to show most
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pathology.

Shoulders

ABduction (C5) – “Don’t let me push your shoulders down”

ADduction (C6/7) – “Don’t let me pull your arms away from your sides”

Elbow

Flexion (C5/6) – “Don’t let me pull your arm away from you”

Extension (C7) – “Don’t let me push your arm towards you”

Wrist

Extension (C6) – “Cock your wrists back and don’t let me pull them down”

Flexion (C6/7) – “Point your wrists downwards and don’t let me pull them up”

Fingers

Finger extension (C7) – “Put your fingers out straight and don’t let me push them down”

Finger ABduction (T1) – “Splay your fingers and don’t let me push them together”

First dorsal interosseous (FDI)

Abductor digiti minimi (ADM)

Thumb ABduction (C8/T1) – “Point your thumbs to the ceiling and don’t let me push them down”

*SEE RAPID SCREEN TABLE AT THE END FOR A QUICK WAY TO ASSESS NERVES

Shoulder ABduction (C5)

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Shoulder ADduction (C6/7)

Elbow flexion (C5/6)

Elbow extension (C7)

Wrist flexion (C6/7)

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Wrist extension (C6)

Finger extension (C7)

Finger ABduction - first dorsal interosseus (T1)

Finger ABduction - abductor digiti minimi (T1)

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 Thumb ABduction (C8/T1)

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7
8. 8
9. 9
10. 10

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Deep tendon reflexes

For each of the reflexes, ensure the patient’s upper limb is completely relaxed (hold at the end of the handle and
allow gravity to aid a good swing onto your finger).

If a reflex appears absent: make sure the patient is fully relaxed and then perform a reinforcement manoeuvre – ask
the patient to clench their teeth together, whilst you hit the tendon.

1. Biceps reflex (C5/6) – located in the antecubital fossa

2. Triceps reflex (C7) – place forearm rested at 90º flexion – tap your finger overlying the triceps tendon

3. Supinator reflex (C6) – located 4 inches proximal to base of the thumb

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 Biceps reflex (C6)

Triceps reflex (C6/7)

Supinator reflex (C6)

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3

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Sensation
It’s easy to get bogged down in examining sensation. Check at least one modality each from dorsal column and
spinothalamic. Demonstrate the normal sensation on their sternum and ask them if it feels the same on the limb.

Light touch sensation

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Assesses dorsal/posterior columns and spinothalamic tracts.

1. Touch the patient’s sternum with the wisp of cotton wool to confirm they can feel it

2. Ask the patient to say “yes” when they are touched

3. Using the wisp of cotton wool, gently touch the skin

4. Assess each of the dermatomes of the upper limbs

5. Compare left to right, by asking the patient if it feels the same on both sides

Pin-prick sensation

Assesses spinothalamic tracts.

Repeat the previous assessment steps, but this time using the sharp end of a neuro-tip.

If loss of sensation is noted distally, test for “glove” distribution of sensory loss (peripheral neuropathy) by moving
distal to proximal.

Vibration sensation

Assesses dorsal/posterior columns.

1. Ask the patient to close their eyes

2. Tap a 128 Hz tuning fork

3. Place onto the patient’s sternum and confirm they can feel it buzzing

4. Place onto the distal interphalangeal joint of the forefinger and ask them if they can feel it buzzing

5. If vibration sensation is impaired, continue to assess the bony prominence of more proximal
joints (interphalangeal joint of thumb →carpometacarpal joint of thumb → elbow → shoulder)

Proprioception

Assesses dorsal/posterior columns.

1. Hold the distal phalanx of the thumb by its sides

2. Demonstrate movement of the thumb “upwards” and “downwards” to the patient (whilst they watch)

3. Then ask the patient to close their eyes and state if you are moving the thumb up or down

4. If the patient is unable to correctly identify direction of movement, move to a more proximal joint ( finger > wrist >
elbow > shoulder)

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Soft touch - cotton wool

Provide an example of sensation

Compare left arm with right

Pin prick sensation

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 Compare left arm with right

Vibration sensation

Proprioception

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2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7

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Co-ordination

Finger to nose test

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1. Ask the patient to touch their nose with the tip of their index finger, then touch your fingertip

2. Position your finger so that the patient has to fully outstretch their arm to reach it

3. Ask them to continue to do this finger to nose motion as fast as they are able to

4. Repeat the test using the patient’s other hand

An inability to perform this test accurately (past pointing/dysmetria) may suggest cerebellar pathology. It can also be
impaired in a sensory ataxia (caused by loss of proprioception) or if there is weakness in the arm.

Dysdiadochokinesia

1. Demonstrate patting the palm of your hand with the back/palm of your other hand to the patient

2. Ask the patient to mimic this rapid alternating movement

3. Encourage them to do this alternating movement as fast as they are able to

4. Repeat test using the patient’s other hand

An inability to perform this rapidly alternating movement (very slow/irregular) suggests cerebellar ataxia (also can be
impaired in a sensory ataxia or with Parkinsonism)

Finger to nose test

Dysdiadochokinesia

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 Dysdiadochokinesia

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3

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To complete the examination

Thank patient

Wash hands

Summarise findings

Suggest further assessments and investigations

Cranial nerve examination

Lower limb neurological examination
Further imaging if indicated – e.g. CT / MRI cervical spine

Rapid screen table

Nerve (root) Example muscle Action Sensation Reflex

Axillary (C5) Deltoid Shoulder Regimental badge over deltoid muscle –

abduction

Musculocutaneous Biceps Elbow Lateral aspect of forearm Biceps

(C5-C6) flexion

Radial (C7) Extensors (Extensor carpi Wrist/finger Radial fossa (‘anatomical snuff box’) Triceps
radialis/ulnaris and extension
digitorum)

Ulnar (T1) First dorsal interosseus Index Palmar aspect of medial side of hand, –
(FDI) finger little finger and medial border of ring
abduction finger
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Median (T1) Abductor pollicis brevis Thumb Palmar aspect of lateral side of hand, –
(APB) abduction thumb, index middle and lateral border of
ring finger

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WRITTEN CONTENT REVIEWED BY

Dr Gemma Maxwell – Neurology Registrar (ST6)

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