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)

Meningioma parasagital y hematoma subdural crónico, una asociación inusual / Parasagittal meningioma and chronic subdural hematoma, unusual association

RESUMEN En muchas ocasiones, los pacientes con tumores cerebrales tienen una variedad de síntomas psiquiátricos inespecíficos. Algunos de estos pueden constituir la primera o única manifestación del tumor, sin la presencia de ningún síntoma o signo neurológico. El diagnóstico ha de basarse en la anamnesis completa y en la exploración neurológica; la neuroimagen confirmará el diagnóstico clínico. Con el presente trabajo se describió la asociación inusual de hematoma subdural crónico y meningioma parasagital en un caso presentado. Se trató de un paciente de 68 años con antecedentes de esquizofrenia. Acudió a consulta con una hemiparesia izquierda. Se le realizó una tomografía axial computarizada de cráneo y arrojó un hematoma subdural crónico y un meningioma parasagital derecho. Se le aplicó tratamiento quirúrgico en dos tiempos operatorios. Su evolución posquirúrgica transcurrió sin complicaciones (AU).

ABSTRACT In many cases, patients with brain tumors have a variety of nonspecific psychiatric symptoms. Some of them can be the first or the only manifestation of the tumor, without presenting any neurological signs or symptoms. The diagnosis must be based on the complete anamnesis and on the neurological examination. The neuroimaging will confirm the clinical diagnosis. The unusual association of a chronic subdural hematoma and a parasagittal meningioma was described in a case presented in the current work. It dealt with a patient, aged 68 years with antecedents of schizophrenia. He assisted the consultation with left hemiparesis. A skull computed tomography showed a chronic subdural hematoma and a right parasagittal meningioma. He underwent a two-steps surgery. His post-surgery evolution ran without complications (AU).

Caloric test and video head impulse test sensitivity as vestibular impairment predictors before cochlear implant surgery

OBJECTIVES: Currently, cochlear implant procedures are becoming increasingly broad and have greatly expanded. Bilateral cochlear implants and cochlear implants are more frequently applied in children. Our hypothesis is that the video head impulse test may be more sensitive than the caloric test in detecting abnormal vestibular function before cochlear implant surgery. The objective of this study was to compare the video head impulse test and caloric test results of patients selected for cochlear implant procedures before surgery. METHODS: The patients selected for cochlear implant surgery were submitted to a bithermal caloric test and video head impulse test. RESULTS: By comparing angular slow phase velocity values below 5° in the bithermal caloric test (hypofunction) and video head impulse test with a gain lower than 0.8, we identified 37 (64.9%) patients with vestibular hypofunction or canal paresis and 21 (36.8%) patients with abnormal video head impulse test gain before the cochlear implant procedure. Of the 37 patients with caloric test vestibular hypofunction, 20 (54%) patients exhibited an abnormal gain in the video head impulse test. CONCLUSION: The caloric test is more sensitive than the video head impulse test (Fisher's exact test, p=0.0002) in detecting the impaired ear before cochlear implant delivery. The proportion of caloric test/video head impulse test positive identification of abnormal vestibular function or caloric test/video head impulse test sensitivity was 1.8:1.

Paralisia periódica hipocalêmica tireotóxica em paciente de ascendência africana / Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis in patients of African descent

A paralisia periódica hipocalêmica tireotóxica (PPHT) é uma urgência endocrinológica caracterizada por ataques recorrentes de fraqueza muscular, associados à hipocalemia e à tireotoxicose. Essa patologia ocorre mais frequentemente em pacientes do sexo masculino, de origem asiática, sendo rara sua apresentação em pessoas de ascendência africana. O caso descrito mostra um paciente afrodescendente que apresentou tetraparesia associada à hipocalemia. Durante esse episódio foi realizado o diagnóstico de hipertireoidismo. A PPHT, embora rara, é potencialmente letal. Portanto, em casos de crises de paresias flácidas, essa hipótese diagnóstica deve ser sempre considerada, principalmente se associada à hipocalemia. Nessa situação, se não houver diagnóstico prévio de hipertireoidismo, este também deve ser considerado.

Thyrotoxic hypokalemic periodic paralysis (THPP) is an endocrine emergency marked by recurrent attacks of muscle weakness associated with hypokalemia and thyrotoxicosis. Asiatic male patients are most often affected. On the other hand, African descents rarely present this disease. The case described shows an afrodescendant patient with hypokalemia and tetraparesis, whose diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was considered during this crisis. The THPP, although rare, is potentially lethal. Therefore, in cases of flaccid paresis crisis this diagnosis should always be considered, especially if associated with hypokalemia. In this situation, if no previous diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, this should also be regarded.

Reliability of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and BESTest sections for adults with hemiparesis

BACKGROUND: The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) was recently created to allow the development of treatments according to the specific balance system affected in each patient. The Brazilian version of the BESTest has not been specifically tested after stroke. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability and concurrent and convergent validity of the total score of the BESTest and BESTest sections for adults with hemiparesis after stroke. METHOD: The study included 16 subjects (61.1±7.5 years) with chronic hemiparesis (54.5±43.5 months after stroke). The BESTest was administered by two raters in the same week and one of the raters repeated the test after a one-week interval. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess intra- and interrater reliability. Concurrent validity with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and convergent validity with the Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC-Brazil) were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Both the BESTest total score (ICC=0.98) and the BESTest sections (ICC between 0.85 and 0.96) have excellent intrarater reliability. Interrater reliability for the total score was excellent (ICC=0.93) and, for the sections, it ranged between 0.71 and 0.94. The correlation coefficient between the BESTest and the BBS and ABC-Brazil were 0.78 and 0.59, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the BESTest demonstrated adequate reliability when measured by sections and could identify what balance system was affected in patients after stroke. Concurrent validity was excellent with the BBS total score and good to excellent with the sections. The total scores but not the sections present adequate convergent validity with the ABC-Brazil. However, other psychometric properties should be further investigated. .

Electroencephalographic analysis in left hemiparesis: a case study / Análise eletroencefalográfica na hemiparesia à esquerda: um estudo de caso

The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes in alpha, beta and gamma bands of distinct cortical regions in variable absolute power due to the execution of feeding motor gesture, through the actuation of mirror neurons system (MNS) and motor imagery (MI). A subject, male, 60 years old, right-handed, with left hemiparesis was subjected to five electroencephalographic measures in different experimental conditions: initial rest, motor practice, mirror neurons system, imagery and final rest. In alpha, there was less mental effort during the condition MI in C3 and Cz. In beta, there was high activity in derivations C4, T3, and T4 during the MNS condition, indicating that these neurons are recruited during the observation and execu-tion task. In gamma, during MI, there was high activation of C4. The MI and MNS promoted cortical activation of regions altered by ce-rebral damage and can be used in rehabilitation of individuals with stroke.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar alterações nas bandas alfa, beta e gama em regiões corticais distintas, na variável potên-cia absoluta decorrente da execução do gesto motor de alimentação, por meio do acionamento do sistema de neurônios espelhos (SNE) e imagética motora (IM). Um sujeito do sexo masculino, 60 anos, destro, hemiparético à esquerda, foi submetido a cinco medidas ele-troencefalográficas em condições experimentais distintas: repouso inicial, prática motora, sistema de neurônios espelho, imagética e repouso final. Em alfa, verificou-se menor esforço mental durante a condição IM nos eletrodos C3 e Cz. Em beta, houve elevada ati-vidade nas derivações C4, T3, e T4 na condição SNE, indicando que esses neurônios são recrutados durante a observação e execução da tarefa. Em gama, durante a IM, verificou-se alta ativação de C4. A IM e SNE promoveram ativação de regiões corticais alteradas pela lesão cerebral, podendo ser utilizados na reabilitação de indivíduos com AVE.

Estudo de seguimento da função motora de indivíduos pós-acidente vascular encefálico / Follow-up analysis of the motor function of post-stroke individuals / Estudio de seguimiento de la función motora de individuos post accidente cerebro vascular

Objetivou-se caracterizar e analisar mudanças nas variáveis relacionadas à função motora de hemiparéticos crônicos após um período médio de sete anos. Coletaram-se via telefone dados demográficos e clínicos de hemiparéticos avaliados em 2003. Todos foram convidados a participar da reavaliação, em que se coletaram medidas de força da musculatura respiratória, desempenho funcional, capacidade física e nível de atividade física. Estatísticas descritivas, testes t pareado ou Wilcoxon foram utilizados para análise dos dados. Dos 101 hemiparéticos avaliados presencialmente em 2003, contataram-se por telefone 65 deles ou seus familiares, sendo que 35 (64,6±10,6 anos) responderam às questões por telefone, 22 (56,8±13,3 anos) foram avaliados presencialmente e 8 faleceram. Após uma média de sete anos de seguimento, em relação às medidas realizadas presencialmente, nenhuma variável apresentou diferença significativa entre as avaliações (0,08

The aim of this study was to characterize and analyze changes in the variables related to the motor function of chronic hemiparetic patients after a period of seven years. The demographic and clinical data of the participants, who were initially assessed in 2003, were collected by telephone. All individuals were invited to participate in the reassessments, which included data related to respiratory strength, functional performance, physical ability, and physical activity levels. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon or paired t-tests were used for analyses. Out of the 101 hemiparetic partcipants, who were initially assessed in 2003, 65 subjects or their relatives were contacted by telephone; 35 (64.5±10.6 years) answered the questions by telephone, 8 passed away, and 22 (56.8±13.3 years) were physically assessed. After a mean follow up of seven years, none of the physically assessed variables showed significant differences between the two assessments (0.08

Se buscó caracterizar y analizar cambios en las variables relacionadas a la función motora de hemiparéticos crónicos después de un período medio de siete años. Se colectaron por teléfono datos demográficos y clínicos de hemiparéticos evaluados en 2003. Todos fueron invitados a participar de reevaluación, donde se colectaron medidas de fuerza de la musculatura respiratoria, desempeño funcional, capacidad física y nivel de actividad física. Estadísticas descriptivas, tests t pareados o Wilcoxon fueron utilizados para análisis de los datos. De los 101 hemiparéticos evaluados presencialmente en 2003, se contactaron por teléfono 65 de ellos o sus familiares, siendo que 35 (64,6±10,6 años) respondieron las preguntas por teléfono, 22 (56,8±13,3 años) fueron evaluados presencialmente y 8 fallecieron. Después de una media de siete años de seguimiento, en relación a las medidas realizadas presencialmente, ninguna variable presentó diferencia significativa entre las evaluaciones (0,08

Differential Diagnosis of Lemierre's Syndrome in a Patient with Acute Paresis of the Abducens and Oculomotor Nerves

Lemierre's syndrome is characterized by anaerobic septicemia, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and septic emboli associated with infections of the head and neck. We describe an unusual and clinically confusing case of a young woman with an acute paresis of the abducens nerve and partial paresis of the right oculomotor nerve. After an extensive imaging diagnostic procedure, we also documented a peritonsillar abscess and various types of thromboses in intracranial and extracranial veins. Furthermore, we found brain and lung abscesses, which led us to establish the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome. Despite intensive anti-coagulation and antibiotic therapy, the patient developed a mycotic aneurysm in the right internal carotid artery directly adjacent to the previously thrombosed cavernous sinus. In summary, we were able to confirm that Lemierre's syndrome may occur in conjunction with uncharacteristic symptoms. Due to the sometimes confusing clinical symptoms as well as clinical and radiological specialties, we had to work on an interdisciplinary basis to minimize the delay prior to establishing the diagnosis and therapy.

Síndrome de Pusher após acidente vascular encefálico: relato de caso / Pusher syndrome after cerebrovascular accident: a case report

Introdução: o termo Síndrome de Pusher refere-se a uma alteração no controle postural de pacientes portadores de hemiparesia após lesões encefálicas. Objetivos: descrever o caso de uma paciente portadora de hemiparesia após Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVC) e sintomas clínicos sugestivos da Síndrome de Pusher promovendo uma discussão sobre a etiologia, a fisiopatologia, a evolução clínica e o prognóstico da Síndrome de Pusher em pacientes portadores de lesões encefálicas. Métodos: Este é um relato de caso retrospectivo de uma paciente do sexo feminino, de 62 anos, portadora de hemiparesia esquerda após AVCH de tálamo, com score de 13 na National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF) de 56 e sinais clínicos da Síndrome de Pusher. Um programa interdisciplinar de reabilitação foi instituído ainda na fase aguda, além de um programa domiciliar de adaptações arquitetônicas e fisioterapia motora para o treino do balance, alinhamento de tronco e cinturas, postura e verticalidade. Resultados e discussão: Apenas quatro meses após o ictus, os sinais da Síndrome de Pusher haviam desaparecido e a paciente apresentava MIF de 99, apesar da manutenção da hemiparesia, da disartria, da hipofonia e do humor deprimido. Conclusão: Este relato de caso sugere que a Síndrome de Pusher isoladamente pode influenciar a evolução e o grau de independência após o AVC, retardando a alta hospitalar e os ganhos do processo de reabilitação. Mais estudos são necessários para compreendermos a fisiopatologia, a evolução e o prognóstico da Síndrome de Pusher.

Afasia global sem hemiparesia: AVC ou transtorno conversivo? / Global aphasia without hemiparesis: stroke or conversion disorder?

CONTEXTO: A realização de diagnóstico neurológico e psiquiátrico em ambiente de emergência hospitalar com freqüência é uma tarefa complexa e exige colaboração interdisciplinar. Um dos diagnósticos diferenciais de doenças neurológicas é o transtorno conversivo, cuja característica principal é a presença de sintomas afetando funções motoras ou sensoriais, que sugerem desordem clínica ou neurológica, porém sem doença orgânica subjacente que explique o quadro. RELATO DE CASO: Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente de 23 anos com apresentação clínica atípica de acidente vascular cerebral, afasia global sem hemiparesia, que foi inicialmente diagnosticada como transtorno psiquiátrico pelo serviço de clínica médica de emergência. CONCLUSÃO: Certas apresentações neurológicas podem ser interpretadas como transtorno conversivo pelas similaridades clínicas entre as duas desordens, raridade do quadro clínico, pela presença de sintomatologia psiquiátrica e fatores psicossociais nos pacientes neurológicos. Mesmo com apresentações neurológicas atípicas e sintomas psiquiátricos, pacientes com quadro sugestivo de transtorno conversivo devem ser sempre investigados de forma interdisciplinar.

BACKGROUND: The neurologic and psychiatric diagnosis in emergency settings are difficult tasks and require interdisciplinary effort. Conversion disorder is one of the differential diagnosis for certain neurologic disorders. The main characteristic is motor or sensory deficits suggesting neurologic or medical condition, but without organic disease that explains the symptoms. CASE REPORT: We present a 23 year-old-woman with an atypical clinical presentation of stroke: global aphasia without hemiparesis. This patient was initially diagnosed with conversion disorder by the internal medicine service in the emergency room. CONCLUSION: Some rare neurologic diseases can be interpreted as conversive disorders due to some reasons: clinical similarities between the two disorders, unusual clinical presentations, comorbidity of neurologic and psychiatric disorders and psychological features of the neurological patients. Patients presenting with atypical neurological or psychiatric symptoms, in which a diagnosis of conversion disorder is suspected, should always be investigated in an interdisciplinary setting.

Enxaqueca oftalmoplégica: relato de caso / Ophthalmoplegic migraine: case report

A enxaqueca oftalmoplégica (EO) é entidade clínica extremamente rara e de etiologia controversa, caracterizada por crises recorrentes de cefaléia unilateral fixa (sem alternância de lado), associadas a paresia de um ou mais nervos oculomotores (III, IV ou VI) homolaterais à dor. Descreve-se o caso de uma paciente com diagnóstico de enxaqueca oftalmoplégica de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos pela International Headache Society (IHS-2004), com aspectos clínicos e idade de início dos sintomas, não usuais. Ao contrário das descrições da literatura, a primeira crise ocorreu na idade adulta. Houve troca de lado num dos episódios e no último evento ocorreu apenas a manifestação ocular sem cefaléia. Em virtude do diagnóstico de enxaqueca oftalmoplégica ser sempre de exclusão, abordamos outras causas de oftalmoplegia dolorosa a serem afastadas por meio de investigação apropriada.

Ophthalmoplegic migraine is a rare syndrome in which episodic fixed unilateral headaches are associated with ipsilateral ophthalmoplegia. Its physiopathology remains obscure. We describe a case in a patient with ophthalmoplegic migraine diagnosed according to the International Headache Society (IH-2004) criteria, who showed an unusual clinical presentation. The first ophthalmoplegic migraine episode occurred in adult life. Pain side changed in one episode. Oculomotor abnormalities were painless during the last crisis. Since diagnosis is made by exclusion, differential diagnosis and need for etiologic investigation are discussed.

Precipitating factors relating to onset medically unexplained paresis and anesthesia meta analytic review

The aim of this study is to examine the extent of the existing evidence describing the precipitating factors relating to onset of medically unexplained paresis and anaesthesia. A systematic analysis of the available scientific literature since 1965 was undertaken to examine the rate of recorded trigger factors for onset of medically unexplained paresis and anesthesia. These factors examined were physical trauma, stressful life events, panic state, organic illness and surgery. Physical trauma was the most frequent precipitating factor 31.6% confidence interval CI [28-34%] compared to stressful life events 25.4% CI [22-28%]. Physical trauma was a more likely precipitant for medically unexplained paresis and anesthesia than purely psychological events. The conclusions are however tentative as many physically traumatic events are associated with fear and panic. Nonetheless these results have implications for current DSM IV and ICD-10 diagnostic criteria of conversion disorder which insist upon a purely psychological triggering event

Hemiparesia congénita y epilepsia: Estudio de 133 casos / Congenital hemiparesis and epilepsy. A study of 133 cases

Objetivo: presentamos una serie de 133 pacientes con diagnóstico de hemiparesia congénita en los que evaluamos la etiología, características clínicas, la ocurrencia de epilepsia y sus características electroclínicas y evolutivas. Material y métodos: Revisamos las historias clínicas de 133 pacientes con hemiparesia congénita en el período comprendido entre febrero de 1989 y marzo de 2003. la edad media actual era de 4 años (rango: 1 a 25 años) y el tiempo promedio de seguimiento de 10 años (rango: 2 a 23 años). Las etiologías fueron divididas en prenatales, perinatales e indeterminadas. Investigamos la edad de comienzo, la semiología de las crisis epilépticas y los tipos de epilepsias y síndromes epilépticos. los hallazgos electroencefalográficos, neurorradiológicos: tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) y/o resonancia magnética nuclear (RMN) fueron revisados en todos los casos. Resultados:Las etiologías fueron prenatales en 96 casos, perinatales en 34, e indeterminadas en 3. Los hallazgos neurorradiológicos mostraron malformaciones del desarrollo cortical (MDC) en 76 casos; y lesiones no displásicas tales como: cortico subcorticales en 20 casos, lesiones corticales en 20 y lesiones centrales o periventriculares en 14. La epilepsia se diagnosticó en 106 de los 133 pacientes (80 por ciento), con una mediana para la edad de inicio de las crisis epilépticas fue de 2 años. Las crisis epilépticas fueron: focales motoras con o sin generalizacion secundaria en 83 casos, espasmos epilépticos en 10, crisis focales complejas en 7 pacientes, y crisis motoras aparentementa generalizadas en 7 casos. Las crisis epilépticas fueron refractarias a drogas antiepilépticas (DAEs) en 36 por ciento de los casos. Conclusión: En esta serie de 133 pacientes con hemiparesia las etiologías más frecuentes fueron las prenatales. La polimicrogiría (PMG) unilateral fue la causa más común. La epilepsia fue diagnosticada en el 80 por ciento de los casos y las crisis focales motoras con o sin g...

Ictal hemiparesis: differentiation from stroke.

This is a clinical analysis of four patients who presented with recurrent episodes of weakness on one side, feeling of heaviness, numbness, and inability to walk. Admission diagnosis was transient ischemic attacks in three patients and hemiplegic migraine in one patient. Attacks persisted for few minutes to few hours and were stereotyped for each patient and never became generalized during the course of the disease. Electroencephalography showed focal slowing and epileptiform discharges over parietal region. All patients responded dramatically to antiepileptic therapy. This is the first case report of ictal hemiparesis from this part of country.

Tetraparesia fláccida / Flaccid tetraparesis

In this paper we review a clinical case of a man of 66 years old admitted to the medicine service of the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile, with a clinical setting of flaccid tetraparesis associated with myalgias, dysphagia, dysphonia, reddish-violaceous eruption on the upper eyelids, periungual erythema and erythema distributed over the anterior neck and chest. We take this case to review the cases of flaccid tetraparesis that can be due to systemic, neuromuscular or psychiatric diseases. The clinical approach begins with the anamnesis: drugs consumption, or systemic diseases; continues with the physical examination orientated to stablish compromise of first or second motoneuron. Finally laboratory test as muscle enzymes, endocronologic test, and others like electromyography and muscle biopsy. We also review the actual tratments and the outcome and prognosis with each of them