Abstract
We present a case illustrating the usefulness of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in differentiating psychogenic from organic postoperative paralysis. Discussed is a 12-year-old girl who underwent surgery for the repair of a recurrent syringomyelia. On the 6 day after a proximal revision of her syringoperi- toneal shunt she returned to the hospital with deep quadriparesis, bowel and bladder incontinence, and complaining of severe headache. An MRI scan showed the syrinx to be collapsed, and removal of the shunt had no impact on her clinical symptoms. Repeat somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) showed no change in comparison to those obtained at the end of her preceding surgery. MEPs were normal for the lower extremities, a finding which is inconsistent with a severe upper motor neuron lesion. She was diagnosed with psychogenic paralysis, and fully recovered within 1 month. We propose that a neurophysiological evaluation including MEPs is useful in the differential diagnosis of psychogenic and organic motor weakness.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 203-206 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Pediatric neurosurgery |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1994 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Motor evoked potentials
- Psychogenic paralysis
- Somatosensory evoked potentials
- Syringomyelia
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Surgery
- Clinical Neurology