Complete recovery of herpes zoster radiculopathy based on electrodiagnostic study:A case report

BACKGROUND Herpes zoster is a painful infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus.Herpes zoster radiculopathy,which is a type of segmental zoster paresis,can complicate the disease and cause motor weakness.This complication should be considered when a patient with a rash complains of acute-onset motor weakness,and the diagnosis can be verified via electrodiagnostic study.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old female with a history of asthma presented to the emergency department with stabbing pain,an itching sensation,and a rash on the right anterior shoulder that had begun 5 d prior.Physical examination revealed multiple erythematous grouped vesicles in the right C4-5 and T1 dermatome regions.Because herpes zoster was suspected,the patient immediately received intravenous acyclovir.On the third hospital day,she complained of motor weakness in the right upper extremity.Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine revealed mild intervertebral disc herniation at C4-C5 without evidence of nerve root compression.On the 12th hospital day,electrodiagnostic study revealed right cervical radiculopathy,mainly in the C5/6 roots.Six months later,monoparesis resolved,and follow-up electrodiagnostic study was normal.CONCLUSION This case emphasizes that clinicians should consider the possibility of postherpetic paresis,such as herpes zoster radiculopathy,and that electrodiagnostic study is useful for diagnosis and follow-up.

Entrapment neuropathies in diabetes mellitus

Neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus(DM) with a wide clinical spectrum that encompasses generalized to focal and multifocal forms. Entrapment neuropathies(EN), which are focal forms, are so frequent at any stage of the diabetic disease, that they may be considered a neurophysiological hallmarkof peripheral nerve involvement in DM. Indeed, EN may be the earliest neurophysiological abnormalities in DM,particularly in the upper limbs, even in the absence of a generalized polyneuropathy, or it may be superimposed on a generalized diabetic neuropathy. This remarkable frequency of EN in diabetes is underlain by a peculiar pathophysiological background. Due to the metabolic alterations consequent to abnormal glucose metabolism,the peripheral nerves show both functional impairment and structural changes, even in the preclinical stage,making them more prone to entrapment in anatomically constrained channels. This review discusses the most common and relevant EN encountered in diabetic patient in their epidemiological, pathophysiological and diagnostic features.

Does the ratio of the carpal tunnel inlet and outlet cross-sectional areas in the median nerve reflect carpal tunnel syndrome severity?

Although ultrasound measurements have been used in previous studies on carpal tunnel syndrome to visualize injury to the median nerve, whether such ultrasound data can indicate the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome remains controversial. The cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the tunnel inlet and outlet can show swelling and compression of the nerve at the carpal. We hypothesized that the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel inlet to outlet accurately reflects the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. To test this, high-resolution ultrasound with a linear array transducer at 5–17 MHz was used to assess 77 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The results showed that the cut-off point for the inlet-to-outlet ratio was 1.14. Significant differences in the inlet-to-outlet ratio were found among patients with mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.29 between mild and more severe（moderate and severe） carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 64.7% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. The cut-off point in the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the median nerve was 1.52 between the moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome patients with 80.0% sensitivity and 64.7% specificity. These results suggest that the inlet-to-outlet ratio reflected the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME：ETIOLOGICAL，CLINICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF 262 CASES

Two hundred and sixty-two patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were analyzed retrospectively. Results showed that middle-and older-age women were more apt to have CTS than men, and that the dominant hand was more frequently affected. Hormonal changes , repetitive and forceful movements, awkward positions of hand and wrist, and other factors may be associated with CTS. Typical clinical manifestations include pain and paresthesia in the median nerve territory, worsening at night or in the early morning , and being relieved by shaking the hand. Although the patients may localize the discomfort beyond the territory, sensory changes are variable and not entirely reliable. Conduction abnormalities often appeared selectively in the median nerve distal to the wrist in CTS. If the patient who is clinically suggestive of CTS shows normal conduction with conventional methods, palmar stimulation and inching technique is recommended. The diagnosis of CTS requires confirmation of illness history, symptoms and signs with objective electrodiagnostic tests.

Recovery of brachial plexus injury after bronchopleural fistula closure surgery based on electrodiagnostic study:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Axillary thoracotomy and muscle flap are muscle-and nerve-sparing methods among the surgical approaches to bronchopleural fistula(BPF).However,in patients who are vulnerable to a nerve compression injury,nerve injury may occur.In this report,we present a unique case in which the brachial plexus(division level),suprascapular,and long thoracic nerve injury occurred after BPF closure surgery in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and concomitant multiple joint contractures.CASE SUMMARY A 52-year-old man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis with shoulder joint contractures presented with right arm weakness and sensory impairment immediately after axillary thoracotomy and latissimus dorsi muscle flap surgery for BPF closure.During the surgery,the patient was positioned in a lateral decubitus position with the right arm hyper-abducted for approximately 6 h.Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound revealed subclavius muscle injury or myositis with brachial plexus(BP)compression and related neuropathy.An electrodiagnostic study confirmed the presence of BP injury involving the wholedivision level,long thoracic,and suprascapular nerve injuries.He was treated with medication,physical therapy,and ultrasound-guided injections.Ultrasoundguided steroid injection at the BP,hydrodissection with 5%dextrose water at the BP and suprascapular nerve,and intra-articular steroid and hyaluronidase injection at the glenohumeral joint were performed.On postoperative day 194,the pain and arm weakness were resolved,and a follow-up electrodiagnostic study showed marked improvement.CONCLUSION Clinicians should consider the possibilities of multiple nerve injuries in patients with joint contracture,and treat each specific therapeutic target.

Bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy:A case report

BACKGROUND Isolated musculocutaneous nerve injury is a rare condition.Herein,we report the first case of bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy after vigorous stretching of both upper extremities with normal results of sensory nerve action potential.Clinicians should be aware of this rare condition that can appear bilaterally.In addition,the interpretation of the aberrant electrodiagnostic study results of this case was discussed.CASE SUMMARY A 29-year-old male complaining of bilateral forearm tingling and upper extremity weakness visited the outpatient clinic.The symptoms began 6 mo prior,and he visited another hospital before visiting our department.The diagnosis was not made even after cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging,electrodiagnostic study,brain magnetic resonance imaging,and arteriography were conducted.The patient performed unique exercises that stretched the pectoralis minor and coracobrachialis muscles.On the follow-up electrodiagnostic study,abnormal spontaneous activities in the bilateral biceps and brachialis muscles were observed.The patient was diagnosed with bilateral musculocutaneous neuropathy.Steroid pulse therapy was administered for approximately 6 wk.After treatment,his muscle strength returned to the predisease condition.CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of this condition,have adequate understanding of anatomy,and advise to correct inappropriate exercises.

Belatedly diagnosed acute motor axonal neuropathy after cardiac surgery

Surgery has been reported a rare cause of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but a recent retrospective study reported a much higher incidence rate for post-surgical patients. There are several case reports of GBS presenting after cardiac surgical procedures. All these cases were diagnosed as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (AIDP). We described a case of acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) after cardiac surgery. Clinical features were reviewed along with spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Sequential electrodiagnostic studies (EDx) were performed. This case represented a rare complication of AMAN with urinary retention after cardiac surgery.

Bilateral spontaneous anterior shoulder dislocation： A missed orthopedic injury mistaken as proximal neuropathy

A number of orthopedic injuries can occur during epileptic seizures. Anterior shoulder dislocation is one such orthopedic injury that is quite rare. The shoulder dislocation may injure the brachial plexus. Besides seizures, the nerves can also be damaged by anticonvulsive therapy. Muscle wasting following a seizure can misguide a clinician to investigate only neural or muscular pathologies. We report here an individual with epilepsy who was referred to us for electrodiagnostic evaluation of proximal muscle wasting related to a suspected proximal neuropathy. He was found to have a normal electrodiagnostic evaluation and later on discovered to have had bilateral shoulder dislocation on X-rays. This report advocates a thorough clinical appraisal, radiographs, and electrodiagnostic evaluation in a case with muscle wasting following a seizure.