Acute Hemiplegia in Children: A Prospective Study of Etiology, Clinical Presentation, and Outcome from Western India

Cases of acute hemiparesis in childhood

INTRODUCTION

Acute hemiparesis is an emergency of various etiologies and possible fatal outcome.

Characteristics and functional outcomes of pediatric stroke survivors at a rehabilitation unit in Saudi Arabia

There is a lack of data regarding functional outcomes of comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) in children with stroke in Saudi Arabia. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of IPR on functional outcomes of pediatric stroke survivors. This retrospective cohort study included pediatric stroke survivors (n = 18) admitted to pediatric rehabilitation unit from January 2011 to December 2018. Data were obtained regarding functional status based on WeeFIM at the time of admission and discharge. Functional gain was compared within genders, age-groups, geographical regions, lesion characteristics, location of motor deficits, primary etiology, comorbidities, and risk factors. Improvement in self-care, mobility, and cognition was also compared. Results showed a delayed admission to IPR from the time of stroke; however, a significant gain was observed in overall WeeFIM score (p < 0.001), self-care, and mobility (both p = 0.001) but not in cognition (p = 0.13). WeeFIM gain was significantly better in hemorrhagic stroke survivors than ischemic stroke survivors (p = 0.027). Age-group, gender, geographical region, primary etiology, lesion characteristics, comorbidities, risk factors, and location of motor deficits did not affect the functional improvement. The association analysis of WeeFIM gain with age, duration from onset of stroke to IPR admission, WeeFIM score at admission, and length of stay did not yield any significant value. Self-care domain of WeeFIM had significantly better percentage gain than mobility and cognition (p = 0.01). In conclusion, functional outcomes among our cohort of Saudi pediatric stroke survivors improved significantly after IPR especially in self-care. Hemorrhagic strokes had better functional outcome than ischemic strokes.

A Rare Case of an Infant with Left Hemiparesis: A Case Report of Bilateral Open-lip Schizencephaly

Schizencephaly is a very rare congenital birth defect. It is characterized by a cortical brain malformation that manifests as a grey-matter-lined cleft extending from the ependyma to the pia mater. It is a rare condition, and few cases have been reported in the literature. The exact cause is unknown. Herein, we report a case of an infant presenting with left side hemiparesis. The CT scan of her brain revealed right fronto-temporal and left parieto-temporal open-lip schizencephaly; thus, urgent referral to a pediatric neurologist was made for early intervention.