title: Neuromuscular involvement in vegetative and minimally conscious states following acute brain injury.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of neuromuscular involvement in patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states (VS, MCS) following acute brain injury. Twenty-two patients (11 in VS, 11 in MCS) admitted to a rehabilitation department underwent nerve conduction, electromyography (EMG) for spontaneous activity and direct muscle stimulation (DMS). Twenty (90.9%) showed abnormal nerve conduction studies, 19 (86.4%) had spontaneous EMG activity, and 7 (31.8%) had abnormal DMS. The time spent in the intensive care unit correlated significantly with the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the ulnar nerve and with the amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential of the sural nerve (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between patients in VS and MCS. Neurophysiological data indicative of neuromuscular involvement are common in patients in VS and MCS. This study underlines the need to implement strategies to prevent and to treat neuromuscular complications in patients in VS and MCS.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Fondazione Istituto, San Raffaele - G. Giglio, Cefalù (PA), Italy. sergiobagnato@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagnato
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boccagni
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sant'angelo
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prestandrea
authors.forename: Marcello C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galardi
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult