Publication:

Study of clinical profile and outcome of patients with acute non-traumatic paraparesis

Background The following study is about the clinical profile and outcome of patients with acute non traumatic paraparesis. It includes the aetiology, clinical presentation and the outcome of various cases of acute non traumatic paraparesis. Paraplegia or paraparesis could be defined as loss of function of both legs as a result of disease or injury of the spinal cord, spinal roots, peripheral nerves or myopathies. Acute non-traumatic paraparesis is a neurological emergency. Reversible causes of acute paraplegia can be treated successfully if diagnosed early.

Methods The observational study was done in the department of general medicine at D. Y. Patil Hospital, Navi Mumbai with sample size of 75 patients over 1 year.

Results With early diagnosis prognosis of acute non traumatic paraparesis can be improved which was evaluated over period of 3 months.

Conclusions Acute non-traumatic paraparesis is a neurological emergency. Reversible causes of acute paraplegia can be treated successfully if diagnosed early. It is important to diagnose and classify all cases into compressive and non-compressive lesions based on presenting symptoms because the management of the two differs.