Diplopía binocular por paresia o parálisis oculomotoras: resultados de las opciones de tratamiento / Binocular Diplopia due to Oculomotor Paresis or Palsies: Outcomes of Treatment Options

Objetivo: Determinar resultados de las opciones de tratamiento para la diplopía binocular en pacientes con paresia o parálisis oculomotoras. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo de una serie de casos que acudieron a la consulta del Servicio de Oftalmología Pediátrica del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer. Se evaluaron las variables: edad, sexo, etiología, opciones de tratamiento, limitación de los movimientos oculares, eliminación de diplopía, fusión y estereopsis. Resultados: La etiología más frecuente fue la microvascular. El 66,7 por ciento de la muestra estudiada se resolvió solo con tratamiento médico, de ellos el 100,0 por ciento con diagnóstico de paresias o parálisis del tercer nervio craneal, seguido por el sexto y cuarto con 63,6 por ciento y 33,3 por ciento, respectivamente. Necesitaron tratamiento médico, quirúrgico y aplicación de toxina botulínica seis pacientes, el 33,3 por ciento del cuarto y el 22,7 por ciento del sexto nervio craneal. El resto de las opciones de tratamiento solo con un paciente. No se halló asociación significativa entre opciones de tratamiento y nervio craneal afectado. El 86,6 por ciento finalizó sin limitación de los movimientos oculares. El 86,7 por ciento de los casos eliminaron la diplopía en todas las posiciones diagnósticas de la mirada. El 76,7 por ciento logró fusión y el 56,7 por ciento estereopsis. Conclusiones: El tratamiento médico y el combinado de médico más inyección de toxina botulínica y cirugía de músculos extraoculares fueron las opciones más utilizadas y permitieron alineamiento ocular y eliminación de la diplopía binocular(AU)

Objective: To determine outcomes of treatment options for binocular diplopia in patients with oculomotor paresis or paralysis. Method: A descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study was carried out of a series of cases that were assisted at the consultation of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Service at Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology. The variables evaluated were age, sex, etiology, treatment options, limitation of ocular movements, elimination of diplopia, fusion and stereopsis. Results: The microvascular etiology was the most frequent. 66.7 percent of the studied sample was resolved only with medical treatment, 100.0 percent of them had a diagnosis of paresis or paralysis of the third cranial nerve, followed by the sixth and fourth with 63.6 percent and 33.3 percent, respectively. Six patients required medical and surgical treatment and application of botulinum toxin, 33.3 percent of the fourth and 22.7 percent of the sixth cranial nerve. The rest of the treatment options with only one patient. No significant association was found between treatment options and affected cranial nerve. 86.6 percent finished without limitation of eye movements. 86.7 percent of cases eliminated diplopia in all diagnostic gaze positions. 76.7 percent achieved fusion and 56.7 percent stereopsis. Conclusions: Medical treatment and combined medical treatment plus botulinum toxin injection and extraocular muscle surgery were the most used options and allowed ocular alignment and elimination of binocular diplopia(AU)

Significados da deficiência adquirida na vida adulta: implicações do trauma raquimedular / Meanings of acquired disability in adulthood: implications of severe spinal cord injury / Significados de la deficiencia adquirida en la edad adulta: implicaciones del trauma raquimedular

Uma lesão medular traumática pode resultar em perdas importantes de diversas funções do organismo, caracterizando assim uma deficiência adquirida. Nesta pesquisa, buscou-se compreender as vivências de pacientes hospitalizados, recém-diagnosticados com um trauma raquimedular, desvelando os significados atribuídos a este acometimento e a consequente deficiência adquirida. Trata-se de uma investigação qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, descritivo, com ênfase nas singularidades dos casos. Participaram dois pacientes do sexo masculino, com idade de 35 e 40 anos, internados em um hospital público, referência em traumas, localizado na região norte do Brasil. Os resultados revelaram perdas significativas como a perda da autonomia e temores relacionados à discriminação e o abandono. Identificou-se que a deficiência adquirida na fase adulta explicita o desafio de ressignificar diferentes aspectos do ser e do viver, o que sinaliza a importância do desenvolvimento de pesquisas acerca da assistência integral a estes pacientes desde o momento do diagnóstico, favorecendo a vivência das perdas sofridas e adaptação à nova condição de vida.

A traumatic spinal cord injury can result in significant losses of various functions of the organism, thus characterizing an acquired disability. The objective of this research was to understand the experiences of hospitalized patients newly diagnosed with spinal cord trauma, revealing the meanings attributed to this affection and the consequent acquired disability. It is a qualitative research, exploratory, descriptive, with an emphasis on the singularities of the cases. Participated in the study two male patients, aged 35 and 40, admitted to a public hospital, reference in traumas located in the northern region of Brazil. The results revealed significant losses, such as loss of autonomy and fears related to discrimination and abandonment. It was identified that the acquired disability in adult phase explains the challenge of re-signifying different aspects of being and of living. This signals the importance of developing research on comprehensive care for these patients from the moment of diagnosis, favoring the experience of suffered losses and adaptation to the new life condition.

Una lesión medular traumática puede desencadenar pérdidas importantes en diversas funciones del organismo, caracterizando así una deficiencia adquirida. En esta recerca se busca comprender las vivencias de los pacientes hospitalizados, recién diagnosticados con trauma raquimedular, desvelando sus significados en este suceso y a la consecuente deficiencia adquirida. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa de carácter exploratorio, descriptivo, con énfasis en las singularidades de los casos. Participaron dos pacientes del sexo masculino, con edades de 35 a 40 años, ingresados en un hospital público, referente en traumas, localizado en la región norte de Brasil. Los resultados revelan pérdidas significativas como la pérdida de la autonomía y miedos relacionados con la discriminación y el abandono. Se identificó que la deficiencia adquirida en la fase adulta explicita el desafío de resignificar los diferentes aspectos del ser y del vivir, lo que señaliza la importancia del desarrollo de investigaciones acerca de la asistencia integral a estos pacientes desde el momento del diagnóstico, favoreciendo la vivencia de las pérdidas sufridas y la adaptación a la nueva condición de vida.

Parálisis idiopática y unilateral del nervio hipogloso

La parálisis aislada del nervio hipogloso es un signo infrecuentemente observado en la práctica neurológica diaria. Se presenta el caso de un hombre de 74 años, sin antecedentes clínicos de importancia, que consultó por comenzar en forma aguda con dolor retroauricular y dificultad en la deglución. En el examen neurológico se constató paresia del nervio hipogloso izquierdo como único dato positivo, sin evidencia de atrofia o fasciculaciones. Los estudios de neuroimágenes no mostraron hallazgos patológicos. El paciente evolucionó favorablemente en forma espontánea. La parálisis aislada e idiopática del nervio hipogloso requiere una exhaustiva evaluación con neuroimágenes y exámenes complementarios. Habitualmente presenta remisión parcial o total espontánea.

The isolated unilateral palsy of the hypoglossal nerve is an unusual sign in daily medical practice. We present the case of a74 year old man, without relevant medical history, who started with headache and difficulty to swallow. On the physical examination, he had isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy without evidence of tongue atrophy or fasciculation. The patient had a good spontaneous evolution. Idiopathic isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy requires an exhaustive evaluation with neuroimages and complementary exams. It usually presents partial or total spontaneous remission.

Doença de Fahr: relato de caso / Fahr's disease: a case report

A doença de Fahr (DF), epônimo para calcinose estriado-pálido-denteada idiopática, refere-se à calcificação idiopática bilateral nos núcleos da base, de caráter esporádico ou familiar, considerada uma doença autossômica dominante...

case of adult botulism following ingestion of contaminated Egyptian salted fish [[Faseikh]]

Food-borne botulism is a rare and serious disease caused by potent neurotoxin of the Clostridium botulinum which is a Gram-positive strictly anerobic organism. It manifests clinically as descending paralysis characterized by prominent oculo-bulbar palsies and symptoms and autonomic signs in an afebrile patient with normal sensorium. If not promptly and aggressively treated it may lead to fatality. In this communication, we report a case of food poisoning resulting in adult botulism that responded to early and effective treatment with specific antitoxin and supportive therapy. The patient made a remarkable recovery and was discharged home three weeks after admission. This case is the first to be reported for adult variant botulism in Arabian Gulf States

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema causing brachial plexus palsy in a term newborn

Neonatal pneumomediastinum is a rare condition which often occurs during the setting of assisted ventilation of premature or diseased lungs. Brachial palsy occurs in presence of impression on cervical and throcal nerve roots due to birth-related trauma. In this case; we present a progressive spontaneous pneumomediastinum. Although subcutaneous emphysema was involving the whole neck, right cervical region was predominantly involved. Even though there was no diagnosed brachial palsy just after delivery, in time, we realized that the right arm was affected. In the literature, we couldn't find any reported case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with subcutaneous emphysema causing brachial plexus palsy in neonatal period

overlooked complication of vancomycin induced acute flaccid paralysis in a child with acute leukemia: a case report

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic which is commonly used to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections. It is commonly used in pediatric oncology wards for children with febrile neutropenia. We report a very rare side effect of vancomycin induced myopathy in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported from Oman

Epidemiología de los enterovirus asociados a enfermedades neurológicas / Epidemiology of enterovirus associated with neurologic diseases

El presente estudio describe los resultados de la investigación de los enterovirus humanos (HEV) mediante cultivo celular y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y su tipificación molecular en 2167 casos de parálisis fláccida aguda, meningitis aséptica y encefalitis aguda, obtenidos entre 1991 y 1998 en la Argentina. La frecuencia de detección de HEV en parálisis fláccida aguda fue 19.5% (130/666) y de poliovirus Sabin 5.4% (36/666). La tasa de detección de HEV en los casos de meningitis fue 28.8% (231/801) y en encefalitis 3.0% (21/700). El grupo etario más afectado por las meningitis fue entre 1 y 9 años (75.3%) y en los casos de parálisis fláccida aguda, de 1 a 4 años (58%). En muestras de brotes de meningitis se identificó echovirus (E) 4, E9, E30 y E17, y en casos esporádicos virus coxsackie A (CAV) 2, B (CBV) 2 y CBV5, E7, E11, E19, E24 y E29, y enterovirus (EV) 71. Finalmente, en casos de encefalitis se detectó E4, E7 y E24. En casos de parálisis fláccida aguda se identificaron 28 serotipos distintos de enterovirus no polio. En la Argentina y en otros países latinoamericanos existe escasa información acerca de la circulación de los HEV y su relación con diversas enfermedades neurológicas. Este estudio proporciona información que puede servir como base para posteriores investigaciones.

This report describes the results of human enterovirus (HEV) detection and characterization using cell culture, polymerase chain reaction and molecular typing in 2167 samples obtained from acute flaccid paralysis, aseptic meningitis and acute encephalitis patients, from 1991 to 1998 in Argentina. HEV were isolated in 130 out of 666 cases (19.5%) and 36 out of 666 (5.4%). HEV RNA was detected in 28.8% (231/801) and 3.0% (21/700) of the patients with meningitis and encephalitis, respectively. Children with ages ranging from 1 to 9 years accounted for 75.3% of the meningitis cases and from 1 to 4 years for 58% of acute flaccid paralysis patients. Echovirus 4 (E4), E9, E30 and E17 were identified from meningitis outbreaks. Coxsackievirus A2 (CAV2), CBV2, CBV5, E7, E11, E19, E24, E29 and enterovirus 71 were recovered only from sporadic cases. Three different serotypes were identified in encephalitis patients: E4, E7 and E24. A total of 28 different serotypes of non-polio enteroviruses were detected from acute flaccid paralysis cases. The information here presented contributes to improving our knowledge about enteroviruses epidemiology in Argentina and their relationship with different neurological diseases. This study provides valuable data that could be useful to further research.

Isolated velopalatine paralysis associated with parvovirus B19 infection / Paralisia velopalatina isolada associada a infecção por parvovírus B 19

A case of isolated velopalatine paralysis in an 8-year-old boy is presented. The symptoms were sudden-onset of nasal speech, regurgitation of liquids into the nose and dysphagia. Brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid examination were normal. Infectious serologies disclosed an antibody arrangement towards parvovirus B19 that was typical of recent infection. In the absence of other positive data, the possibility of a correlation between the tenth nerve palsy and parvovirus infection is discussed.

Apresentamos um caso de paralisia velopalatina isolada, num menino de 8 anos, que se manifestou por voz nasalada, regurgitação de líquidos pelo nariz e disfagia, de início súbito. A ressonância magnética encefálica e o estudo do líquido cefalo-raquidiano foram normais. O perfil serológico dos anticorpos anti-parvovírus B19 era típico de infecção recente. Na ausência de outros dados positivos, discute-se a possibilidade de uma correlação entre a parésia do X nervo e a infecção por parvovírus.

Evaluación mediante resonancia magnética (RM) de las lesiones obstétricas del plexo braquial / Obstetrical brachial plexus injuries: a MRI diagnostic approach

Propósito. Demostrar la utilidad de la resonancia magnética (RM) en la evaluación de las lesiones obstétricas del plexo braquial. Material y métodos. Fueron evaluados mediante RM de campo alto (1,5 Tesla) 23 pacientes con semiología correspondiente a parálisis del plexo braquial. Se estudió con bobina de cerebro en los planos axial, coronal oblicuo y sagital en secuencias ponderadas para T1, T2 y STIR. Resultados. En cuatro pacientes (17 por ciento) el examen fue considerado como normal. En 19 pacientes (83 por ciento) se obtuvieron hallazgos patológicos (pseudomeningoceles, neuromas, tumor y quiste aracnoideo). Conclusión. La RM es un método no invasivo que logra determinar el sitio y grado de compromiso del plexo braquial, permitiendo de esta manera programar en forma precisa la terapéutica a instituir

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: an overview

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis [TPP] is a fairly common manifestation of hyperthyroidism in Asian populations, with an incidence of about 1.9% in thyrotoxic patients, but it is rarely diagnosed among Caucasians and blacks in the Western world. The diagnosis often can be made on the basis of the clinical manifestations alone. Sometimes, periodic paralysis precedes hyperthyroidism or occurs in silent hyperthyroidism. As a result, physicians may easily overlook it even when life-threatening hypokalemia is present. The pathophysiology of this disorder is still not well understood. Correction of the thyrotoxic state is the definitive treatment. Potassium supplementation, propranolol, and spironolactone may be helpful both in the acute state and in preventing attacks

Diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis: injection injury or polio?

In many countries, the treatment of choice for all fevers is one or more injections. These injections are associated with a risk of nerve damage. If cases of poliomyelitis are not to be missed, the diagnosis of injection trauma or traumatic neuritis (TN) must be exact. The guides for distinguishing between TN and polio are not clear. It is probable that some cases of polio are misdiagnosed as TN. As three-quarters of children with paralytic polio receive injections just before the onset of paralysis, their paralysis may be mistaken for TN. Clearer guidelines are proposed, together with suggestions for better documentation of muscles injected and paralysed. All cases of reported TN should be monitored and new diagnostic guidelines published. To protect their children, mothers must be educated to understand that injections for fever can cause harm. This must be an important part of the eradication programme for poliomyelitis.

Reporte de caso de parálisis hipocalémica periódica y propuesta de abordaje diagnóstico de la parálisis flácida aguda / Case report of hypocalemic periodic paralysis and proposal of diagnostic approach for the acute flacid paralysis

El diagnóstico etiológico y el manejo de la parálisis flácida aguda representan un reto frecuente para el clínico, quien debe considerar una amplia gama de causas que afectan la función neuromuscular. Se evaluó paciente femenina de 21 años sin antecedentes patológicos con cuadro agudo y rápidamente progresivo de parálisis flácida ascendente con compromiso respiratorio. Se consideró entre las etiologías el síndrome de Guillain-Barré y se solicitó electrolitos y estudio electrofisiológicos. Los estudios electrofisiológicos mostraron disminución de las velocidades y prolongación de las latencias de la conducción motora. El potasio sérico fue de 1.8 mEq/L al ingreso, la CPK fue de 2,277 U/L. La reposición intravenosa de potasio resultó en una rápida mejoría, con recuperación total de la fuerza en las primeras 12 horas de hospitalización. La paciente egresó totalmente recuperada y con pautas de seguimiento. El presente es un ejemplo de canalopatía tipo parálisis hipocalémica periódica con presentación clínica similar a la del síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Las canalopatías deben considerarse en el diagnóstico diferencial de las parálisis flácidas agudas. Se propone un algoritmo de diagnóstico y tratamiento para éstas

Hypokalemic paralysis in pregnancy.

Hypokalemic paralysis is an uncommon entity with varied etiology. Renal tubular acidosis is an unusual cause of this disorder. Its occurrence with pregnancy is rare. We report such a case and mention the implications of the association and review relevant literature breifly.

Distension abdominal por herpes zoster / Abdominal distension due to herpes zoster

A case is reported in which an abdominal protrusion appeared in relation with a zosteric eruption at 11th dorsal dermatome. The motor deficit in zoster is unusual (2-3 percento in the reported series) and generally recognized when the extremities are affected. The frequency with which the abdominal muscles are involved is estimated to be around 0.17 percento, according to a clinical series. The aim of this report is to draw attention to the abdominal wall paresis that can result when zoster involves the caudal dorsal dermatomyotomes. This in turn, leads to abdominal distension which needs to be differentiated from other causes.