Introduction Acute neuromuscular disorders occasionally confront the pediatric intensivist and/or the pediatric neurologist. Many of these are primary disorders of the motor unit that present acutely and may require urgent admission to a neurologic critical care unit. We have chosen…
Introduction The acute polyneuropathies are a group of acquired, generally immune-mediated or infectious disorders causing dysfunction and sometimes degeneration of peripheral nerves, spinal sensory and motor nerve roots, and occasionally the cranial nerves. The most common of these conditions are…
Introduction Mononeuropathies are rare in children, accounting for fewer than 10% of pediatric referrals for electromyographic (EMG) testing. This is in contrast to adults, in whom as many as 30% of EMG referrals are for investigation and characterization of discrete…
Anatomy In total, there are 31 spinal nerve root pairs: 8 in relation to the 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. In general, one nerve root is adjacent to each vertebra, but the cervical…
The field of pediatric neuromuscular disorders has continued to expand scientifically since the era of molecular neurogenetics began in the mid-1980s. The rapid changes in the field may be overwhelming to busy, practicing clinicians on a day-to-da… Introduction The role…
Clinical Vignette A 48-year-old hospital administrator began having difficulties during meetings when her back would stiffen up every time she was asked to get up to speak. Subsequently, she developed episodes of anxiety accompanied by her left leg tightening up.…
Clinical Vignette A 54-year-old man developed acute-onset right thigh, hip, and buttock pain. He reported right knee “buckling” when he stepped off a curb, resulting in a fall. He also noted right foot drop. Paresthesias developed over the right thigh,…
The spinal cord may be affected by a broad spectrum of disorders, some of them directly damaging the cord (intramedullary), others affecting the cord indirectly due to pathologies involving the extramedullary region, including the intradural and extradural spaces. Some of…
Knowledge of spinal cord neuroanatomy is integral to the understanding, diagnosis, and management of spinal cord disorders. The spinal cord syndrome depends on site, process, and extent of spinal cord damage. A myelopathy is defined as any disorder that impairs…
Parasitic infections of the nervous system range from acute syndromes such as diffuse cerebritis in cerebral malaria to more chronic mass lesions causing seizure disorders such as neurocysticercosis. This chapter will focus on the most common parasites causing central nervous…