Etymed
ataxia
Definition
Lack of coordination of muscle movements
Clinical context
A 35-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of uncoordinated movements and difficulty walking. She reports the symptoms started abruptly while she was cooking dinner. On examination, she has truncal ataxia with wide-based gait and inability to perform rapid alternating movements. A brain MRI reveals a small posterior fossa lesion compressing the cerebellum.
Mnemonic
ATEXIA - Ataxia, Tremor, Exams, Incoordination, Ataxia