J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2019 Feb;37(1):26-29. 10.17340/jkna.2019.1.4.

Peripheral Neuropathies in Patients with Rhabdomyolysis: Clinical Characteristics and Electrodiagnostic Findings in the Acute/Subacute Stage

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. jihelpgod@cu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Nephrology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome caused by injury to skeletal muscle and characterized by myalgia and swelling of the affected muscles. Peripheral nerve injury rarely occurs in patients with rhabdomyolysis.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of 8 consecutive patients with peripheral neuropathies associated with rhabdomyolysis. We assessed the clinical characteristics and electrodiagnostic findings of eight patients.
RESULTS
In seven patients, rhabdomyolysis occurred after prolonged immobilization. In one patient, blunt trauma was a cause of rhabdomyolysis. All patients presented with weakness and paresthesia in lower extremities and electrodiagnostic tests showed peripheral nerve injury suggesting sciatic neuropathy or lumbosacral plexopathy. Although rhabdomyolysis itself recovered completely in all patients, neurologic deficits from neuropathy recovered partially and slowly.
CONCLUSIONS
Sciatic nerve or lumbosacral plexus was injured in all eight patients. Among the various causes of rhabdomyolysis, prolonged immobilization is associated with development of peripheral neuropathy.

Keyword

Rhabdomyolysis; Peripheral nervous system diseases; Electrodiagnosis

MeSH Terms

Electrodiagnosis
Humans
Immobilization
Lower Extremity
Lumbosacral Plexus
Medical Records
Muscle, Skeletal
Muscles
Myalgia
Neurologic Manifestations
Paresthesia
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases*
Rhabdomyolysis*
Sciatic Nerve
Sciatic Neuropathy
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