title: The role of motor evoked potentials in psychogenic paralysis.
abstract: METHODS
  This prospective clinical study identified patients in whom paralysis developed after lumbar surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether patients with psychogenic paralysis could be identified using noninvasive techniques.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Before the advent of transcranial magnetic stimulation, no clinically applicable, noninvasive technique was available to confirm the integrity of the corticospinal tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with suspected postoperative psychogenic paralysis were evaluated by clinical examination and neurophysiologic work-up, including transcranial magnetic stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients with psychogenic paralysis were identified in a 15-month period. In each case, motor evoked potentials could be demonstrated from the affected muscle(s), thus obviating the need for further invasive imaging or surgical exploration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a reliable, painless, and noninvasive technique for demonstrating structural integrity of the corticospinal tracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Schulthess Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Theiler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grob
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dvorak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*