Rehabilitation of Susac Syndrome: A Case Report.

A 43-yr-old man presented with headaches, forgetfulness, and personality changes. Based on imaging, there was concern for acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. He improved with steroids and immunoglobulin. When symptoms recurred, magnetic resonance imaging showed new scattered gray and white matter lesions, many within the corpus callosum. Angiogram showed multiple branch retinal artery occlusions, pathognomonic for Susac syndrome. He was treated with steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and cytoxan and was sent to acute rehabilitation. Functional Independence Measure score improved from 65 to 108. Follow-up at 6 and 10 mos showed continued improvement, with full return to his premorbid roles at home and work. The adjunct of acute rehabilitation to traditional treatment may have promoted faster recovery than expected based on previous reports.

Supraorbital and supratrochlear stimulation for trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias (TAC) is a rare primary headache disorder with challenging and limited treatment options for those unfortunate patients with severe and refractory pain. This article will review the conventional pharmacologic treatments as well as the new neuromodulation techniques designed to offer alternative and less invasive treatments. These techniques have evolved from the treatment of migraine headache, a much more common headache syndrome, and expanded towards application in patients with TAC. Specifically, the article will discuss the targeting of the supratrochlear and supraorbital nerves, both terminal branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Comparison of radicular symptoms caused by lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis in the elderly.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study using combined data from 2 prospective cohort studies. OBJECTIVE: To expose the differences between the clinical characteristics of neurogenic claudication from magnetic resonance image-documented lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbosacral radicular syndrome from acute, magnetic resonance image-documented, lumbar disc herniation (LDH). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: LSS and LDH are the common lumbar disorders that produce lower extremity pain. Though known factors such as pain induced by walking for LSS and the rapid onset of symptoms for LDH are useful for differentiating these disorders, exploration of differences in other factors has received limited study. METHODS: This study included participants aged 60 yr or older from 2 previous studies. One examined walking limitations caused by LSS and the second the natural history of LDH in elderly adults. The clinical features of both groups were compared by calculating means, medians, and standard deviations for continuous variables, and frequencies for categorical variables. χ test was used to explore differences between LSS and LDH for categorical variables, and Student t test or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. RESULTS: Participants with LSS had more medical comorbidity, less intense leg pain, and less disability than those with LDH. Leg pain was more common in the anterior thigh, anterior knee and shin in LDH, and in the posterior knee in LSS. Trunk flexion was more impaired in LDH. Positive straight leg raising and femoral stretch signs were common in LDH, and rare in LSS. Abnormal Achilles reflexes were noted more frequently in LSS. CONCLUSION: In addition to established factors, greater leg pain intensity, greater disability, and pain in the anterior leg are more common in the elderly with LDH than in the elderly with LSS. Normal trunk flexion, absence of nerve root tension signs and abnormal Achilles reflexes are more common in LSS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.