Medical Mnemonics: Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Medical Mnemonic: “Wacky, Wobbly, Wet”

Patients who present with the triad of urinary incontinence, wide-based gait and dementia are likely to have normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Symptoms for these patients are often remembered by the mnemonic “wacky, wobbly, and wet.”

• Wacky: Dementia and mental impairment
• Wobbly: Wide based gait (Difficulty walking)
• Wet: Urinary Incontinence

NPH is a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has slowly built up in the ventricles. Patients with NPH are generally older (over the age of 60). CT or MRI of the brain would reveal dilated ventricles without dilatation of sulci.

This is the second in our series of Medical Mnemonics Monday posts. You can all previous and future medical mnemonics here.