title: Focal neuropathy in children with critical illness.
abstract: Four children are described who developed focal lower limb nerve palsies following critical illness. Two had clinical and/or neurophysiological evidence of simultaneous generalised critical illness polyneuropathy. The diagnosis was delayed in three patients due to the presence of central motor abnormalities and slow motor recovery. Follow-up from seven months to three years showed minimal or no recovery. In three, a vasculitic skin infarct, compartment syndrome and focal myositis could have caused nerve compression. We suggest that in critical illness peripheral nerves have an increased susceptibility to damage by local pressure.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's Hospital, Western Bank, Sheffield, U.K.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kandler
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Baxter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D020427:Peroneal Neuropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*