Herpes zoster-induced abdominal wall paresis: neurophysiological examination in this unusual complication.

BACKGROUND

Herpes zoster affects essentially sensory fibres with segmental distribution. Abdominal wall paresis is a rare complication.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: We present the case of a 72 year-old man with herpes zoster infection in T11-T12 left dermatomes and segmental abdominal wall protrusion.

METHODS

Electromyography (EMG) and dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) were performed 27 days after symptoms onset.

RESULTS

EMG confirmed acute axonal lesion in left external oblique muscle and left paraspinal muscles at T11-T12 level and DSEPs assessed topographic distribution: there was no response in the left side at T12 dermatome. Three months following the onset of shingles, the abdominal wall protrusion had completely resolved.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurophysiological examination, including EMG and DSEPs, confirms motor and sensory loss in this unusual post-herpetic complication.