Neurological

1. Neurological 49 CFR 391.41(b)(7)(8)(9)

2. How many neurons fire while driving a commercial motor vehicle?

3. Regulations: 49 CFR 391.41(b)(7) "A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person — Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular disease which interferes with his/her ability to control and operate a commercial motor vehicle safely." 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8) "Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle." 49 CFR 391.41(b)(9) "Has no mental, nervous, organic, or functional disease or psychiatric disorder likely to interfere with his/her ability to drive a commercial motor vehicle safely."

4. Demands of Driving: • Neurological demands of driving include: • Cognitive demands: • Sustained vigilance and attention • Quick reactions • Communication skills • Appropriate behavior • Physical demands: • Coordination

5. Regulation: • You must review and discuss with the driver any "yes" answers. • Does the driver have: • Seizures, epilepsy, and/or use anticonvulsant medication? • History of head/brain injuries, disorders, or illnesses? • Episodes of loss of or altered consciousness? • Episodes of fainting or dizziness? • History of stroke with residual paralysis? • Spinal injury or disease with residual effects?

6. Recommendation: Perform and document an neurologic review of systems if any “yes” answers. Specifically question medications and side effects. Review seizures in detail if that questions has a “yes” answer.

7. Regulation: • On examination, does the driver have: • Compromised equilibrium, coordination, and/or speech pattern? • Asymmetrical deep tendon reflexes? • Abnormal patellar and Babinski reflexes? • Sensory abnormalities? • Positional abnormalities? • Ataxia?

8. Regulation: • You must document discussion with the driver regarding: • Decision to disqualify or limit card and why • Medications, compliance, and side effects • Current limitations • Abnormal findings • Further evaluation/testing/treatment needed

9. Remember: • Medical fitness for duty also requires the driver to be free of any neurological residual limitations sufficiently severe to interfere with: • Cognitive abilities • Judgment • Attention • Concentration • Vision • Physical strength • Agility • Reaction time

10. Acute seizure- Structural insult to the brain Waiting period: Minimum — 1 year seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: Mild insult without early seizures. Stroke without risk for seizures. Intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage without risk for seizures. Minimum — 2 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: Moderate insult without early seizures. Mild insult with early seizures. Minimum — 5 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: Moderate insult with early seizures. Stroke with risk for seizures. Intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage with risk for seizures.

11. Acute seizure - Structural insult to the brain • Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year • Recommend to certify if: • The driver with a history of mild or moderate insult has: • Completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. • Normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, and neuropsychological test. • Clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a history of a severe brain insult with or without early seizures. • The driver with a mild or moderate insult: • Has not completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. • Does not have a normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, or neuropsychological test. • Does not have clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving.

12. Acute seizure - Structural insult to the brain Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. Follow-up: The driver should have an annual medical examination.

13. Single Unprovoked Seizure Waiting period: Minimum — 5 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year Recommend to certify if: Completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. Clearance from a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy and understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. Recommend not to certify if: Has not completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. Does not have clearance from a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy and understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. Follow-up: The driver should have at least biennial medical examinations.

14. Epilepsy • Waiting period: Minimum 10 years off anticonvulsant medication and seizure free • Decision: • Recommend to certify if: • The driver has completed a waiting period of 10 years off anticonvulsant medication and seizure free and you, as the medical examiner, believe that the nature and severity of the medical condition of the driver does not endanger the health and safety of the driver and the public. • Note: ACCORDING TO REGULATION: You MUST not certify if the driver has: • An established medical history of epilepsy. • A clinical diagnosis of epilepsy. • Any other condition likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver is taking anticonvulsant medication because of a medical history of one or more seizures or is at risk for seizures.

15. Epilepsy Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. Clearance from a specialist in neurological diseases who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving is a prudent course of action if choosing to certify the driver with an established history of epilepsy. Follow-up: The driver should have an annual medical examination.

16. Infections of the Central Nervous System • Waiting period: • Minimum — 1 year seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: • Bacterial meningitis without early seizures. • Viral encephalitis without early seizures. • Minimum — 5 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: • Bacterial meningitis with early seizures. • Minimum — 10 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: • Viral encephalitis with early seizures. • Decision: Maximum certification — 2 years • Recommend to certify if: • Aseptic meningitis. • Bacterial meningitis and has completed the appropriate recommended waiting period. • Viral encephalitis and has completed the appropriate recommended waiting period. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a current CNS infection. • Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. • Follow-up: You may on a case-by-case basis determine that annual medical examination is appropriate.

17. Acute Seizures - Systemic Metabolic Illness and Childhood Febrile Seizures No waiting period. 2 year card. If underlying medical condition is correct.

18. Headaches • Chronic or chronic-recurring headache syndromes can potentially interact with other neurological diagnostic categories in two ways: • 1) Through complications (e.g., stroke in relation to migraine). • 2) As a result of associated features of a particular syndrome (e.g., the visual distortion or disequilibrium associated with a migraine attack). • The following types of headaches may interfere with the ability to drive a CMV safely: • Migraines • Tension-type headaches • Cluster headaches • Post-traumatic head injury syndrome • Headaches associated with substances or withdrawal • Cranial neuralgias • Atypical facial pain • 1) Consider headache frequency/severity when evaluating a driver whose history includes headache. • 2) In addition to pain, inquire about other symptoms caused by headaches, such as visual disturbances, that may interfere with safe driving. • 3) Consider the treatment used to relieve headaches. • Do the effects or side effects of treatment interfere with safe driving?

19. Vertigo and Dizziness • Waiting period: Minimum — 2 months asymptomatic with diagnosis of: • Benign positional vertigo. • Acute and chronic peripheral vestibulopathy. • Decision: Maximum certification — 2 years • Recommend to certify if: • Benign positional vertigo or Acute/Chronic peripheral vestibulopathy: Completed the appropriate symptom-free waiting period. • A medical condition of a nature and severity that does not endanger the health and safety of the driver and the public. • Recommend not to certify if: • Benign positional vertigo or Acute/Chronic peripheral vestibulopathy: • Symptomatic within the past 2 months. • Meniere's disease. • Labyrinthine fistula. • Nonfunctioning labyrinths. • Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. • Follow-up: The driver should have at least biennial medical examinations.

20. Autonomic Neuropathy • Waiting period: No recommended time frame • You should not certify the driver until etiology is confirmed and treatment has been shown to be adequate/effective, safe, and stable. • Decision: Maximum certification — 2 years • Recommend to certify if: • As a medical examiner, you believe that the nature and severity of the medical condition of the driver does not endanger the health and safety of the driver and the public. • Recommend not to certify if: • Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy that causes: • Resting tachycardia. • Orthostatic blood pressure. • Other organ autonomic neuropathy that interferes with driving ability. • Monitoring/Testing: You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. • Follow-up: The driver should have a biennial physical examination or more frequently if needed to adequately monitor medical fitness for duty.

21. Central Nervous System Tumors • Waiting period: • Minimum — 1 year post-surgical removal of: • Infratentorialmeningiomas • Acoustic neuromas • Pituitary adenomas • Spinal benign tumors • Benign extra-axial tumors. • Minimum — 2 years post-surgical removal of: • Benign supratentorialtumors • Spinal tumors

22. Central Nervous System Tumors • Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year • Recommend to certify if: • Completed the appropriate minimum waiting period. • Stable nonprogressive deficit or no neurological deficit. • Imaging that shows no tumors. • NOTE: If the driver has a history of seizures, use the appropriate seizure guidelines. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has: • Not completed appropriate waiting period. • Primary or metastatic malignant tumors of the nervous system. • Benign nervous system tumors.

23. Central Nervous System Tumors Monitoring/Testing: Since meningiomas may be multiple, residual examinations must show no evidence of recurrent or new tumors. Evaluation should be performed by a neurologist or physiatrist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. Follow-up: The driver should have an annual medical examination.

24. Stroke • Waiting period: • Minimum — 1 year if not at risk for seizures (cerebellum or brainstem vascular lesions) • Minimum — 5 years if at risk for seizures (cortical or subcortical deficits) • Decision: Maximum certification —1 year (Follow-up: Must have annual exam) • Recommend to certify if: • Completed the appropriate waiting period. • Normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, and neuropsychological testing. • No neurological residuals or, if present, residuals of a severity that does not interfere with ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle. • Clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. • Recommend not to certify if: • Has not completed the appropriate waiting period. • Uses oral anticoagulant therapy because of the risks associated with excessive bleeding. • Uses any other drug or combination of drugs that have potentially high rates of complications (e.g., depressing effects on the nervous system). • Has residual intellectual or physical impairments that interfere with commercial driving. • Does not have clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving.

25. Subarachnoid and Intercerebral Hemorrhages • Waiting period: • Minimum — 1 year if not at risk for seizures (cerebellum or brainstem vascular lesions) • Minimum — 5 years if at risk for seizures (cortical or subcortical deficits) • Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year (Follow-up: Must have annual exam) • Recommend to certify if: • Completed the appropriate waiting period. • Normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, and neuropsychological testing. • No neurological residuals or, if present, residuals of a severity that do not interfere with the ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle. • Clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. • Recommend not to certify if: • Has not completed the appropriate waiting period • Uses oral anticoagulant therapy because of the risks associated with excessive bleeding. • Uses any other drug or drug combination with a potentially high rate of complications (e.g., depressing effects on the nervous system). • Has residual intellectual or physical impairments that interfere with commercial driving. • Does not have clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving.

26. Transient Ischemic Attack • Waiting period: Minimum — 1 year • Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year • Recommend to certify if: • Completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. • Normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, and neuropsychological test. • Clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver uses oral anticoagulant therapy because of the risks associated with excess bleeding or uses any other drug or combination of drugs with a potentially high rate of complications (e.g., depressing effects on the nervous system). • Monitoring/Testing: • You may on a case-by-case basis obtain additional tests and/or consultation to adequately assess driver medical fitness for duty. • Follow-up: The driver should have an annual medical examination.

27. Traumatic Brain Injury • Waiting period: Minimum — 2 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: • Moderate TBI without early seizures. • Mild TBI with early seizures. • Minimum — 5 years seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication following: • Moderate TBI with early seizures. • Decision: Maximum certification — 1 year (FOLLOW- UP: MUST HAVE ANNUAL EXAM) • Maximum certification — 2 years for mild TBI without early seizures • Recommend to certify if: • The driver with a mild or moderate TBI who has: • Completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. • Normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, and neuropsychological test. • Clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving. • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has sustained a severe TBI with or without early seizures. • The driver with a mild or moderate TBI: • Has not completed the minimum waiting period seizure free and off anticonvulsant medication. • Does not have a normal physical examination, neurological examination including neuro-ophthalmological evaluation, or neuropsychological test. • Does not have clearance from a neurologist who understands the functions and demands of commercial driving.

28. Conditions Associated with Abnormal Muscle Activity • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a diagnosis of: • Myotonia: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/thornton/ • Isaac's syndrome: • http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Neuromyotonia.html • Stiff-man syndrome: http://medicine.yale.edu/neurology/divisions/neuromuscular/sms.aspx

29. Congenital Myopathies - Disqualifying • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a diagnosis of a congenital myopathy disorder: • Central core disease • Centronuclearmyopathy • Congenital muscular dystrophy • Rod (nemaline) myopathy

30. Metabolic Muscle Disease -Disqualifying Recommend not to certify if: The driver has a diagnosis of a metabolic muscle disease.

31. Motor Neuron Diseases -Disqualifying • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a diagnosis of a motor neuron disease. • This group of disorders includes: • Hereditary spinal muscular atrophy in both juvenile and adult forms. • Acquired amyotrophic lateral sclerosis conditions producing degeneration of the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord.

32. Muscular Dystrophies -Disqualifying Recommend not to certify if: The driver has a diagnosis of a muscular dystrophy disease.

33. Neuromuscular Junction Disorders - Disqualifying • Recommend not to certify if: • The driver has a diagnosis of a neuromuscular junction disorder. • This group of disorders includes: • Myasthenia gravis. • Myasthenic syndrome. • In addition to limb muscle weakness, vision is often affected and easy fatigability is a common manifestation.

34. Peripheral Neuropathy -Disqualifying Recommend not to certify if: The driver has a diagnosis of a peripheral neuropathy. NOTE: Peripheral neuropathy may be a complication of diabetes mellitus. You should evaluate the sensory modalities of pain, light touch, position, and vibratory sensation in the toes, feet, fingers, and hands for signs of peripheral neuropathy.

35. Dementia - Disqualifying Recommend not to certify if: The driver has a diagnosis of dementia.

36. http://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov/mehandbook/neuro_waiting_sums_ep.aspxhttp://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov/mehandbook/neuro_waiting_sums_ep.aspx

37. Musculoskeletal 49 CFR 391.41(b)(1)(2)(7)

38. 49 CFR 391.41(b)(1) "A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person — Has no loss of a foot, a leg, a hand, or an arm, or has been granted a skill performance evaluation certificate pursuant to §391.49." 49 CFR 391.41(b)(2) "Has no impairment of: (i) A hand or finger which interferes with prehension or power grasping; or (ii) An arm, foot, or leg which interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle; or any other significant limb defect or limitation which interferes with the ability to perform normal tasks associated with operating a commercial motor vehicle; or has been granted a skill performance evaluation certificate pursuant to §391.49." 49 CFR 391.41(b)(7) "Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular, neuromuscular, or vascular disease which interferes with his/her ability to control and operate a commercial motor vehicle safely."

39. Drivers have a multitude of job demands. The least physically demanding part may be the actual driving. For example, the duties of a commercial driver may include loading and unloading, making multiple stops, driving cross-country and in heavy city traffic, working with load securement devices, and changing tires. • Other common driving tasks include: • Manipulating the wheel. • Shifting gears. • Maintaining pressure on the pedals. • Braking. • Monitoring traffic. • Other job tasks include: • Performing pre- and post-trip safety checks. • Ensuring the vehicle is loaded properly. • Securing the load. • Evaluating and managing vehicle breakdowns. • Responding to emergency situations.

40. Regulation: • Review and discuss any “yes” answers on health history in regards to does the driver have: • A muscular disease? • A missing hand, arm, foot, leg, finger, or toe? • A nonfunctioning or dysfunctional hand, arm, foot, leg, finger, or toe? • An injury or disease of the spine? • Chronic low back pain?

41. Recommendation: Do a musculoskeletal review of system if any “yes” answers regarding musculoskeletal questions.

42. Regulation: • When examining the driver you must note the following: • Does the driver have: • A missing or impaired leg, foot, toe, arm, hand, or finger? • Sufficient power grasp and prehension of hands and fingers to maintain steering wheel grip? • Sufficient strength and mobility in lower limbs to operate pedals properly? • A perceptible limp? • Signs of previous spine or other musculoskeletal surgery? • Deformities of the spine and/or torso? • Sufficient mobility and strength of spine and/or torso to drive safely and perform other job tasks? • Limitations of motion of the spine and/or torso? • Spine, torso, and/or other musculoskeletal tenderness?

43. Regulation: • You must document discussion with the driver regarding: • Decision to disqualify or limit card and why • Medications, compliance, and side effects • Current limitations • Abnormal findings • Further evaluation/testing/treatment needed

44. Neuromuscular Diseases See previous slides in the neurologic section of the lecture.

45. Skills Performance Evaluation http://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov/mehandbook/muscul_system_SPE_ep.aspx

46. QUESTIONS • ???