pattern of clinical presentation and etiology of non-traumatic quadriparesis in Sudanese patients

ABSTRACT

Quadriparesis is a major disabling health problem. Its importance is due to the incapacitating disability that often persists despite treatment. The study was aimed at detecting the etiologies and clinical presentation of Sudanese patients with quadriparesis, as there was no available documented information about quadreparesis in Sudan. This is a descriptive hospital based cross-sectional study of 100 patients admitted to Elshaab Teaching Hospital [ETH] from January 2002 to October 2003, who presented with four limbs weakness. Out of 100 patients 55 were males and 45 were females. 55% were in the age group of 18-44. Patients were originally from different states and different racial groups. Weakness was the presenting complains in all patients. 75% of the patients presented with gradual onset weakness. MRI detected the lesion in all patients with cervical cord compression. Cervical cord compression, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy, motor neuron disease and muscular dystrophy constituted the etiological bulk of quadriparesis in the Sudan