Cephalic tetanus: demonstration of a dual lesion

A clinical and electrophysiological study of 15 cases of cephalic tetanus is reported. This condition is a form of local tetanus which commonly follows an injury to the face or head. It is characterised by muscle paralysis which is maximal close to the site of injury, while spasm is evident at mroe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 1977-08, Vol.40 (8), p.782-786
Main Authors: Dastur, F D, Shahani, M T, Dastoor, D H, Kohiyar, F N, Bharucha, E P, Mondkar, V P, Kashyap, G H, Nair, K G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Electromyography
Evoked Potentials
Facial Muscles - physiopathology
Facial Nerve - physiopathology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Denervation
Neural Conduction
Reaction Time
Spasm
Syndrome
Tetanus - diagnosis
Tetanus - physiopathology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A clinical and electrophysiological study of 15 cases of cephalic tetanus is reported. This condition is a form of local tetanus which commonly follows an injury to the face or head. It is characterised by muscle paralysis which is maximal close to the site of injury, while spasm is evident at mroe distant sites. As muscle paralysis improves with time it is succeeded by spasm. It is argued that paralysis is due to high local concentrations of toxin in the brainstem while lesser concentrations cause spasm by abolishing inhibition. Electrophysiological studies indicate that paralysis is of lower motor neurone type with denervation potentials, hyperirritability, loss of motor units, and marginally increased distal latencies being the features recorded.
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.40.8.782