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Case Reports
. 2012 Jan 15;312(1-2):177-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.08.035. Epub 2011 Sep 10.

Herpes zoster-induced abdominal wall paresis: neurophysiological examination in this unusual complication

Susana Santiago-Pérez  1 , Roberto Nevado-Estévez, M Concepción Pérez-Conde
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herpes zoster-induced abdominal wall paresis: neurophysiological examination in this unusual complication

Susana Santiago-Pérez et al. J Neurol Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster affects essentially sensory fibres with segmental distribution. Abdominal wall paresis is a rare complication.

Aims of the study: We present the case of a 72 year-old man with herpes zoster infection in T11-T12 left dermatomes and segmental abdominal wall protrusion.

Methods: Electromyography (EMG) and dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) were performed 27 days after symptoms onset.

Results: EMG confirmed acute axonal lesion in left external oblique muscle and left paraspinal muscles at T11-T12 level and DSEPs assessed topographic distribution: there was no response in the left side at T12 dermatome. Three months following the onset of shingles, the abdominal wall protrusion had completely resolved.

Conclusions: Neurophysiological examination, including EMG and DSEPs, confirms motor and sensory loss in this unusual post-herpetic complication.

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