Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report

Objective: To describe a case of paraparesis caused by both peripheral neuropathy and spinal cord injury following a lightning strike, highlighting imaging findings and neurophysiological results to improve understanding and management. Design: A case report. Patient: A 29-year-old male without si...

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Main Authors: Zoé Moyaux, Maria Ciravegna Fonseca De Melo Bandeira, Idil Gunes Tatar, Gautier Randour, Mathilde Massardier, Vincent van Pesch, Thierry Lejeune
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Clinical Communications
Subjects:
Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm-cc/article/view/42545
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author Zoé Moyaux
Maria Ciravegna Fonseca De Melo Bandeira
Idil Gunes Tatar
Gautier Randour
Mathilde Massardier
Vincent van Pesch
Thierry Lejeune
author_facet Zoé Moyaux
Maria Ciravegna Fonseca De Melo Bandeira
Idil Gunes Tatar
Gautier Randour
Mathilde Massardier
Vincent van Pesch
Thierry Lejeune
author_sort Zoé Moyaux
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To describe a case of paraparesis caused by both peripheral neuropathy and spinal cord injury following a lightning strike, highlighting imaging findings and neurophysiological results to improve understanding and management. Design: A case report. Patient: A 29-year-old male without significant medical or surgical history, struck by lightning. Methods: Neurological evaluation, imaging of the spinal cord, electromyography studies, and somatosensory evoked potential assessments were performed. Imaging findings and peripheral nerve evaluations were compared to the existing literature on lightning-related injuries. Results: Spinal cord imaging showed hyperintensities with a quadrifocal white matter involvement. Neurophysiological study revealed peripheral motor impairment. Conclusion: This case documents paraparesis resulting from both central and peripheral nervous system damage following a lightning strike. Unique spinal cord imaging results and neurophysiological studies contribute to the understanding of nerve damage mechanisms. Given the increasing frequency of lightning strikes, these findings may help refining clinical management and patient education strategies.
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issn 2003-0711
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Medical Journals Sweden
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series Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Clinical Communications
spelling doaj-art-9c3fdd613eb34b2d98615d4db68b8cb62025-08-20T03:03:45ZengMedical Journals SwedenJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Clinical Communications2003-07112025-04-01810.2340/jrm-cc.v8.42545Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case reportZoé Moyaux0Maria Ciravegna Fonseca De Melo Bandeira1Idil Gunes Tatar2Gautier Randour3Mathilde Massardier4Vincent van Pesch5Thierry Lejeune6Université catholique de Louvain, Secteur des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, NeuroMusculoSkeletalLab (NMSK), Brussels, Belgium; Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, Brussels, BelgiumCliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de neurologie, Brussels, BelgiumCliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de radiologie, Brussels, BelgiumCliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, Brussels, BelgiumCliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, Brussels, BelgiumCliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de neurologie, Brussels, BelgiumUniversité catholique de Louvain, Secteur des Sciences de la Santé, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, NeuroMusculoSkeletalLab (NMSK), Brussels, Belgium; Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de médecine physique et réadaptation, Brussels, BelgiumObjective: To describe a case of paraparesis caused by both peripheral neuropathy and spinal cord injury following a lightning strike, highlighting imaging findings and neurophysiological results to improve understanding and management. Design: A case report. Patient: A 29-year-old male without significant medical or surgical history, struck by lightning. Methods: Neurological evaluation, imaging of the spinal cord, electromyography studies, and somatosensory evoked potential assessments were performed. Imaging findings and peripheral nerve evaluations were compared to the existing literature on lightning-related injuries. Results: Spinal cord imaging showed hyperintensities with a quadrifocal white matter involvement. Neurophysiological study revealed peripheral motor impairment. Conclusion: This case documents paraparesis resulting from both central and peripheral nervous system damage following a lightning strike. Unique spinal cord imaging results and neurophysiological studies contribute to the understanding of nerve damage mechanisms. Given the increasing frequency of lightning strikes, these findings may help refining clinical management and patient education strategies. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm-cc/article/view/42545case reportlightning injuriesperipheral nervous system diseasesspinal cord disease
spellingShingle Zoé Moyaux
Maria Ciravegna Fonseca De Melo Bandeira
Idil Gunes Tatar
Gautier Randour
Mathilde Massardier
Vincent van Pesch
Thierry Lejeune
Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Clinical Communications
case report
lightning injuries
peripheral nervous system diseases
spinal cord disease
title Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
title_full Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
title_fullStr Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
title_full_unstemmed Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
title_short Paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike – a case report
title_sort paraparesis following peripheral and central nervous system lesions after a lightning strike a case report
topic case report
lightning injuries
peripheral nervous system diseases
spinal cord disease
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm-cc/article/view/42545
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