A Case of Motor Paralysis of the Limb Caused by Herpes Zoster / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

Herpes zoster is a common viral disease that accompanies segmental, painful vesicular eruptions along the dermatome. Motor involvement can also occasionally occur in this disease entity and its reported incidence is between 0.5% and 5%. However, the impairment of motor function often goes unrecognized, probably because of severe pain that is a more prominent feature than motor weakness. We experienced an 83-year-old female patient with herpes zoster infection of the right C5-7 dermatomes, who showed right upper extremity paralysis. We examined the limb using motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) test and concluded that herpes zoster caused patient's motor paralysis. After 4 months, her motor paralysis was completely recovered spontaneously.