2017 Volume 24 Issue 1 Pages 38-42
Cases involving complication of herpes zoster infection by motor neuropathy are known. Here we report one with arm paralysis despite administration of antiviral drugs in the early phase of infection. The patient was a 69-year-old male. Painful skin lesions appeared at the right C5-C6 region, and he was diagnosed with herpes zoster infection the next day for which he received antiviral drugs. One week after onset, he presented with difficulties in right shoulder elevation and abduction, as well as weakness of the right deltoid and biceps. The patient was diagnosed with C5-C6 radiculopathy derived from herpes zoster infection, and he was administered a combination of intrathecal steroid injections, continuous epidural analgesia, and physiotherapy. The treatment helped ease his pain during rehabilitation, and arm paralysis improved by 21 weeks after onset. Previous reports have suggested that herpes zoster infection complicated by segmental motor paralysis requires one to two years of recovery. Coordinated treatment appears to be the main factor that contributes to early-stage recovery.
