Functional outcome in a patient with an acute quadriparesis secondary to systemic sclerosis: a case report.
Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a relatively uncommon disease. Although well-known for many years, research on appropriate physical therapy during all stages of myositis due to scleroderma is limited. We report the functional outcome in a patient with an acute quadriparesis secondary to diffuse SSc associated with extensive myositis. This 35-year-old black woman progressed to almost complete functional recovery in the course of 16 days of acute rehabilitation with combined physical therapy including resistive exercises. This case strongly suggests that a patient with diffuse SSc and associated myositis can undergo aggressive physical therapy in a monitored environment with good functional improvement and no worsening of the myositis.
Chernev
Ivan
I
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118-2398, USA. ivantchernev@yahoo.com
Gustafson
Kristin
K
Medina-Bravo
Angel
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome