Neuralgia amiotrófica posterior a la vacunación contra la leptospirosis humana / Neuralgic amyotrophy following vaccination against human leptospirosis

Introducción: la neuralgia amiotrófica o síndrome de Parsonage-Turner se asocia a vacunaciones en 15 por ciento de los casos. No existen reportes que vinculen esta condición con la vacuna contra la leptospirosis humana. Objetivo: describir las características clínicas de un paciente que presentó una plexopatía braquial aguda posterior a la inmunización contra la leptospirosis humana. Presentación del caso: un varón de 31 años de edad, obrero agrícola en 2008 recibió una dosis de la vacuna cubana contra la leptospirosis humana (vax-Spiral); 3 semanas después presentó dolor intenso localizado en ambos hombros, a la semana siguiente aparece debilidad muscular y posteriormente atrofia del músculo deltoides derecho. La evaluación neurológica era compatible con afección aguda asimétrica de la porción superior del plexo braquial, con mayor intensidad en el lado derecho, en el cual también estaba involucrado el diafragma. Se comprobó el compromiso de la porción superior del plexo braquial con estudios de neuroconducción y electromiografía. El paciente es tratado con analgésicos y fisioterapia, evolucionando de modo favorable. Conclusiones: el evento ocurrido en este caso sugiere que la vacuna cubana contra leptospirosis humana pudiera producir inmunorreactividad cruzada contra antígenos del sistema nervioso periférico

Introduction: neuralgic amyotrophy or Parsonage-Turner syndrome is associated with vaccination in 15 percent of cases. There are no reports linking this condition to the vaccine against human leptospirosis. Objective: describe the clinical characteristics of a patient who developed acute brachial plexopathy after vaccination against human leptospirosis. Case presentation: a male 31 year-old agricultural worker received a dose of the Cuban vaccine against human leptospirosis (vax-SPIRAL) in 2008. Three weeks later he presented intense pain in both shoulders. The following week he had muscular weakness, and then atrophy of the right deltoid muscle. Neurological evaluation showed acute asymmetric damage to the upper brachial plexus, with greater intensity on the right side, and involvement of the diaphragm. Nerve conduction examination and electromyography revealed involvement of the upper brachial plexus. The patient was treated with analgesics and physical therapy, and was found to evolve favorably. Conclusions: the events described suggest that the Cuban vaccine against human leptospirosis might produce immunological cross-reactivity against antigens of the peripheral nervous system

[Prospective study of the long-term effectiveness of inpatient rehabilitation of patients with chronic cervicobrachial syndromes and the effect of prescribing special functional pillows]. / Prospektive Studie über die Langzeitwirksamkeit stationärer Heilverfahren bei Patienten mit chronischen Zervikobrachialsyndromen und zum Effekt einer zusätzlichen Verordnung spezieller Funktionskopfkissen.

In order to investigate the long-term effect of clinical rehabilitation measures as well as the additional effect of prescription of a special pillow in patients suffering from chronic cervicobrachialgia a total of 149 patients was investigated. All patients suffered from chronic cervicobrachialgia and were admitted for rehabilitative treatment in the orthopaedic Elfenmaar-Klinik of Bad Bertrich. For a four-week period the patients were treated with physical therapy including gymnastics, electrotherapy, thermotherapy, and massage. Additionally they underwent a health-promoting programme specially designed for patients with spondylopathia. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving a special pillow (Curavario, Pala-Medic-Company) for the use during and after the rehabilitative treatment (n = 76 or n = 73, respectively). For two weeks before the treatment, during the four-week treatment period and for two weeks after the treatment the patients had to fill in a questionnaire, comprising among others six questions on the intensity of their cervicobrachialgic symptoms (pain-intensity [local pain, radiation of pain], muscular tenseness, paraesthesia and sleep disorders [caused by pain or paraesthesia]). Three, six, and nine month after the treatment period the patients received a similar questionnaire. Immediately after the treatment period a significant reduction of mean pain intensity and muscle tenseness (p < 0.001; Rep.-Mes.-ANOVA) was found. At the same time significantly lower frequencies of pain radiation and sleep disorders caused by pain or paraesthesia (p < 0.001; chi-square-test) were found. During the following nine months the intensity of the symptoms slightly re-increased, however, all parameters were still reduced nine months after treatment compared to the values before treatment (p < 0.01). Before and during the treatment no difference between the two groups could be detected, however, the follow-up showed significantly lower scores of pain intensity (p < 0.05; Student-t-test) and sleep disorders (p < 0.01; chi-square test) in the patients who had received the special pillow. It is concluded that the rehabilitative treatment is effective in patients suffering from chronic cervicobrachialgia and that the complaints in the post-treatment period can be reduced by prescription of special pillows.

Occupational therapy intervention with radiation-induced brachial plexopathy.

Occupational therapy intervention minimizes disability and facilitates optimum functional independence. The range of dysfunction experienced by patients with radiation-induced brachial plexopathy includes physical, psychological, emotional and social difficulties. The occupational therapist works as part of the multiprofessional team to use a client-centred, problem-solving approach to address the problems and enable the patient to adapt to the altered body image and disabilities.

[Brachial plexus neuropathy following pyogenic cervical adenophlegmon]. / Névralgie brachiale amyotrophiante au décours d'un adénophlegmon cervical à pyogènes.

BACKGROUND: Brachial plexopathy is rare in children; it may follow a non-specific respiratory infection or occur after a specific viral disease or immunization. CASE REPORT: An 8 year-old girl was admitted suffering from presuppurative acute cervical adenitis. She was given penicillin V, netilmicin and corticosteroids. The adenitis gradually resolved over a period of ten days. There was no evidence of a specific bacterial infection. The patient suffered from pain localized to her right shoulder 15 days after admission; this pain was resolved within 3-4 days but was followed by paralysis affecting the upper brachial roots without sensory signs. EMG performed 15 days later showed signs of denervation. Amyotrophy set in rapidly but recovery under physiotherapy was complete 5 months later. CONCLUSION: This plexopathy resembling the Parsonage-Turner syndrome could be allergic in pathogenesis although similar cases after bacterial, possibly streptococcal, infection remain to be confirmed.

Manual para prevención y rehabilitación basada en la comunidad para personas ciegas y con otros impedimentos / Manual for prevention and rehabilitation based on the community for blind people and with other disabilities

Contiene: 1.Detección y evaluación: fichas. 2.Desarrollo psicomotor. 3.Ejercicios. 4.Actividades de la vida diaria. 5.Parálisis cerebral. 6.Poliomielitis. 7.Lesiones medulares. 8.Poliomielitis. 9.Lesiones medulares. 10.Parálisis braquial obstétrica. 11.Articulaciones dolorosas. 12.Retardo mental. 13.Ciegos. 14.Problemas en la comunicación. 15.Educación especial. 16.Ataques. 17.Lepra. 18.Ayudas biomecánicas. 19.Trabajo y las personas discapacitadas