Parsonage-Turner Syndrome: A Case of Idiopathic Upper Extremity Paresis Following Middle Cranial Fossa Resection of a Vestibular Schwannoma.

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2016

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In this patient report, Parsonage-Turner syndrome (acute brachial neuropathy) developed in our patient 1 day after resection of a vestibular schwannoma by a middle cranial fossa approach. Aiming to increase awareness of this rare disorder among neurotologists, we describe differential diagnoses, work-up, and management strategies.

PATIENT: A 67-year-old man treated for vestibular schwannoma at a single tertiary referral center.

INTERVENTION: Surgery for vestibular schwannoma, electromyography for confirmation of diagnosis, and physical therapy.

MAIN OUTCOME AND RESULTS: After ruling out postoperative complications by intracranial imaging and physical examination, electromyography was confirmatory of the suspected diagnosis, Parsonage-Turner syndrome; steroids were not indicated. With physical therapy as treatment, our patient is experiencing gradual recovery of all neurologic deficits, including gross motor function.

CONCLUSION: As a rare condition reported only sporadically in the orthopedic and neurology literature, our patient with Parsonage-Turner syndrome represents (to our knowledge) the first within neurotology literature. This rare, idiopathic disease process is usually self-limiting, and may mimic cerebral-vascular accident or injury from surgical positioning. Its presentation is one of limited motor and sensory neuropathies of the brachial plexus distribution.

Volume

37

Issue

8

First Page

1195

Last Page

1198

ISSN

1537-4505

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

27518132

Department(s)

Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology

Document Type

Article

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