Slowly progressive hemiparesis in childhood as a consequence of Rasmussen encephalitis without or with delayed-onset seizures

Five young children developed slowly progressive hemiparesis as the initial manifestation of Rasmussen encephalitis (RE). Three have remained seizure free over an observational period of 1.3–1.9 years. In the remaining two patients, seizures occurred after 0.5 and 0.6 years respectively. We suggest that RE might be presently underdiagnosed and should be suspected in cases of new onset hemiparesis. In this series, three out of five patients showed oligoclonal bands on examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which represented additional diagnostic hints towards an immune-mediated condition. According to recently published formal diagnostic criteria, evidence of progressive cerebral hemiatrophy or bioptic identification of RE-typical inflammation confirms the diagnosis in such cases. Long-term immunotherapy is recommended in order to prevent further tissue loss and functional decline.     

Postural adaptation during arm raising in children with and without unilateral cerebral palsy

Postural sway during arm movements were related to the size of the base of support (BOS) and the limits of stability (LOS) of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (USCP) and typically developing (TD) children. For half of the trials the mechanical disturbance due to the rapid arm movement was increased by attaching small weights at the wrists. The participants stood with both feet on a large force plate, which recorded the displacements of the center of pressure (CoP). The results showed that in the children with USCP the LOS forward and toward the non-dominant (more-affected) side were smaller than in the TD children whereas the LOS backward and toward the dominant (less-affected) side did not differ between the two groups. When rapidly moving the arms the children with USCP swayed over a larger portion of their base of support in the forward direction and toward their more-affected side. In addition, the maximal sway toward the more-affected side during arm movement exceeded the LOS while balance was maintained. These effects increased when the movements were performed with the weights at the wrists. These results show that an area of permissible sway, which was not spontaneously explored during the leaning task, was required to maintain balance during the supra-postural task. Training to enlarge the LOS that includes weight shifts toward the more-affected side might reduce the area of the BOS that is self-perceived as less secure.     

A case of hypoglycemic hemiparesis and literature review

Abstract

An 89-year-old man with diabetes treated with metformin 500 mg/day and glimepiride 4 mg/day was hospitalized because of hypoglycemic right hemiparesis and dysarthria (casual glucose value 1.8 mmol/L), which resolved quickly following administration of 40 mL of 40% dextrose. Hemiparesis is a rare symptom (4.2%) of hypoglycemia. There are about 200 case reports of hypoglycemic hemiparesis. The average glucose level at which hemiparesis developed was 1.8 mmol/L. Right-sided hemiparesis predominated (R 66%; L 34%). On imaging studies, abnormal findings were frequently observed in the internal capsule or splenium of the corpus callosum. The mechanism of hemiparesis is not fully understood. The existence of cases in which hypoglycemia cannot be distinguished from stroke on imaging studies suggests the importance of measurement of the blood glucose level when the symptoms of stroke are first recognized.     

Unilateral pupillary mydriasis from nebulized ipratropium bromide: A false sign of brain herniation in the intensive care unit

Although there are many causes of anisocoria in the intensive care setting, the development of unilateral mydriasis in patients with intracranial hemorrhage or tumor is a neurological emergency, as it may herald the onset of uncal herniation. We describe two patients with a hemiparesis from neurosurgical disorder who subsequently developed a fixed and dilated pupil. The pupillary abnormality was caused by nebulized ipratropium bromide in both cases, and resolved when the medication was discontinued. Nebulized ipratropium may leak from the mask into ipsilateral eye and cause mydriasis in patients with facial weakness. This benign cause of anisocoria in the intensive care setting is distinguished from uncal herniation by the laterality of neurologic findings, and lack of mental status change, ptosis, and extraocular movement impairment.     

Spasticity,weakness, force variability,and sustained spontaneous motor unit discharges of resting spastic–paretic biceps brachii muscles in chronic stroke

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to examine relations among spasticity, weakness, force variability, and sustained spontaneous motor unit discharges in spastic–paretic biceps brachii muscles in chronic stroke. Methods: Ten chronic stroke subjects produced submaximal isometric elbow flexion force on impaired and non‐impaired sides. Intramuscular EMG (iEMG) was recorded from biceps and triceps brachii muscles. Results: We observed sustained spontaneous motor unit discharges in resting biceps on iEMG. Spontaneous discharges increased after voluntary activation only on the impaired side. The impaired side had greater matching errors and greater fluctuations in isometric force. Spontaneous discharges were not related functionally to spasticity, force variability, or weakness. However, greater strength on the impaired side correlated with less force variability. Conclusion: Weakness rather than spasticity is a main factor interfering with voluntary force control in paretic–spastic biceps brachii muscles in chronic stroke. Muscle Nerve, 2013     

运动想象指导语的制订及用于脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢运动功能康复研究

目的提高脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢运动功能康复训练效果。方法采取循证联合专家评定法制订脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢运动功能康复运动想象指导语,录制成普通话、沪语2种音频;将41例脑卒中单侧偏瘫患者随机分为A组(21例)和B组(20例)。A组于第1阶段(1~3周)行常规康复训练联合运动想象训练,第2阶段(4~5周)休息,第3阶段(6~8周)行常规康复训练;B组第1阶段行常规康复训练,第2阶段休息,第3阶段行常规康复训练联合运动想象训练。结果两组训练第3、5、8周末Fugl-Meyer运动评分量表(FMA)、改良Barthel指数(MBI)和偏瘫上肢功能测试-香港版(FTHUE-HK)评分比较,差异有统计学意义(处理、时间及交互效应均P0.01);其中A组训练3周末MBI、FTHUE-HK评分显著高于B组,B组训练8周末FMA、FTHUE-HK评分显著高于A组(均P0.05)。结论在常规训练的基础上增加运动想象训练有助于脑卒中偏瘫患者上肢运动功能的恢复,尤其是对患者手精细运动功能恢复效果更优,但效果维持时间偏短,需坚持长期训练。     

Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of a child with a hemiparesis: sources of stress, intervening factors and long-term expressions of stress

Background In a substantial minority of children with a hemiparesis, motor impairments are accompanied by behavioural problems. This combination confronts parents with several persistent, frequently intense, sources of stress. At the same time, it is likely to reduce the effectiveness of psychosocial resources, such as feelings of competence, which would normally buffer the impact of the stressors. Aim To investigate the association between motor and behavioural problems in children with a hemiparesis and symptoms of stress in their parents, with particular attention to psychosocial factors which may mediate between the child's problems and parents’ symptoms of stress. Method Questionnaires assessing the medical, functional and behaviour problems of the child, and the parents’ experience of stress were completed by the mothers and fathers of 108 children with a hemiparesis who were members of the Association for the Motor Handicapped in the Netherlands. Results Both parents reported (extremely) high levels of long‐term stress significantly more frequently than parents in a normative sample. Indices of long‐term stress were associated with the child's behavioural problems and, less strongly, with dysfunctionality in daily life. However, behavioural problems and dysfunctionality also reduced parents’ feelings of competence and social support. A mediation analysis showed that feelings of incompetence and social isolation mediated between the child's problems and the parents’ symptoms of stress. Fathers and mothers did not differ in level of reported stress, or in the associations between the child's problems and degree of experienced stress. Conclusion Both parents of a child with a hemiparesis experience high levels of stress, which are strongly associated with feelings of incompetence and social isolation. This suggests that one focus of intervention should be the alleviation of parenting stress with particular attention to increasing perceived competence in the parenting role and reducing feelings of social isolation.     

Surgical indication in children with congenital hemiparesis

Nine children with perinatal occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, resulting in unilateral enlargement of one lateral cerebral ventricle associated with cortical atrophy and subcortical cavity formation, were operated on because of intractable epilepsy. All subjects exhibited mild to severe hemiparesis, localized in the right side of the body in six instances and in the left side in three cases. All but one patient presented with some degree of psychomotor retardation. The surgical treatment consisted of the removal of the atrophic cerebral cortex. One child died after surgery because of disseminated intravascular coagulation. All the remaining eight children benefited from the operation, with a decrease in the hypertonia of the affected limbs and an improvement in dexterity and gait as well as in intellectual performance. Five patients could be considered seizure-free following the surgical treatment, and the remaining three experienced a significant reduction in the frequency of the seizures.     

Subacute hypoglossal nerve paresis with internal carotid artery dissection

OBJECTIVES: To describe a case of an isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy in a patient with a spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD). This condition is a well-recognized cause of cerebral ischemic stroke in patients younger than 45 years of age. Isolated cranial nerve neuropathy is a rare presentation. More common manifestations include incomplete hemiparesis, hemicrania, Horner syndrome, cervical bruit, pulsatile tinnitus, and multiple cranial nerve palsies. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search (Ovid, MEDLINE) for the presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and outcome of patients with internal carotid artery dissection was performed. RESULTS: A 43-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of mild dysarthria. There was no history of craniocervical trauma. The physical examination revealed an isolated left hypoglossal nerve paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging and angiography findings were consistent with a left skull base ICAD. The patient was successfully treated with anticoagulation therapy. The current rate of cranial nerve involvement is estimated at 10% of all ICADs. This is the second report of isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy without hemicrania in a case of atraumatic ICAD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an ICAD infrequently present to the otolaryngologist because of its head and neck manifestations. It is crucial to recognize atypical findings and to perform an accurate and prompt diagnostic evaluation. The foundation of treatment is aggressive anticoagulation, with surgical or radiologic intervention reserved for cases demonstrating life-threatening progression.     

Ataxic hemiparesis syndrome: clinical and CT study of 20 new cases and review of the literature

20 new cases of ataxic hemiparesis syndrome (AHS) are reported and the findings compared with those of published cases. AHS may be due to lesions either of the brainstem or of supratentorial structures, where motor fibers run together with the cerebro-cerebellar pathways. Specific syndromes related to the lesion site cannot be identified from the clinical signs. Ischemic infarct is the most frequent cause of the syndrome, but hemorrhagic, neoplastic and demyelinating lesions have also been reported.

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Sommario Venti nuovi casi di emiparesi atassica sono stati osservati e confrontati con casi della letteratura. L'emiparesi atassica può conseguire a lesioni del tronco cerebrale o delle strutture sovratentoriali laddove le fibre motorie decorrono insieme alle vie cerebro-cerebellari. I quadri clinici osservati non consentono pertanto di identificare specifiche sindromi caratterizzate da danni anatomici comuni. Per quanto l'infarto ischemico ne sia di gran lunga la causa più frequente, l'emiparesi atassica è riportata anche in presenza di lesioni emorragiche, neoplastiche e demielinizzanti.