Computer-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation in Patients with Visuospatial Neglect or Homonymous Hemianopia after Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility and effects of computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (CBCR) in patients with symptoms of visuospatial neglect or homonymous hemianopia in the subacute phase following stroke. METHOD: A randomized, controlled, unblinded cross-over design was completed with early versus late CBCR including 7 patients in the early intervention group (EI) and 7 patients in the late intervention group (LI). EI received CBCR training immediately after inclusion (m = 19 days after stroke onset) for 3 weeks and LI waited for 3 weeks after inclusion before receiving CBCR training for 3 weeks (m = 44 days after stroke onset). RESULTS: CBCR improved visuospatial symptoms after stroke significantly when administered early in the subacute phase after stroke. The same significant effect was not found when CBCR was administered later in the rehabilitation. The difference in the development of the EI and LI groups during the first 3 weeks was not significant, which could be due to a lack of statistical power. CBCR did not impact mental well-being negatively in any of the groups. In the LI group, the anticipation of CBCR seemed to have a positive impact of mental well-being. CONCLUSION: CBCR is feasible and has a positive effect on symptoms in patients with visuospatial symptoms in the subacute phase after stroke. The study was small and confirmation in larger samples with blinded outcome assessors is needed.

[Todd's paralysis].

Todd's paralysis is a clinical entity consisting of acute focal neurological deficits following an epileptic seizure. It occurs after 6-13% of seizures, and the symptoms may last from minutes to 36 hours. Stroke with seizure at symptom onset is difficult to differentiate clinically from Todd's paralysis. The use of advanced imaging such as cerebral CT and MRI with angiography is recommended. This is a review of the current knowledge on pathogenesis, clinical presentation and differential diagnoses, and we propose an investigation plan for patients presenting with symptoms of Todd's paralysis.

Dural tear from diagnostic lumbar puncture followed by long-term morbidity: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar punctures are performed in different medical settings and are a key procedure in the diagnosis of several neurological conditions. Complications are rare and generally self-limiting. There are no reports of symptomatic accumulation of fluid in the epidural space after lumbar puncture in adults and there are no studies on long-term outcome after post dural puncture headache (PDPH). CASE: A lumbar puncture was performed in a 29 y.o. slender woman with unspecific symptoms to rule out neuro-infection. Next day MRI showed substantial accumulation of CSF in the epidural space from C2 to the sacrum dislocating the spinal chord in the spinal canal. The condition was ameliorated by epidural blood-patching. At 5 months she was still impaired by severe orthostatic headache. CONCLUSIONS: The only plausible explanation for the massive CSF leak was a dural tear occurring during multiple attempts of lumbar puncture. Anterior dislocation of the spinal chord due to CSF leak is not a recognised complication to lumbar puncture. This complication was followed by long-term disability in our case. The diagnosis can be made by MRI. A difficult procedure with several attempts and use of traumatic technique may increase risk of this complication.