Infectious complications of intrathecal baclofen pump devices in a pediatric population.

Background: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an effective therapy for spasticity and dystonia in pediatric populations; however, there are associated infectious complications.

Methods: Patients who had an initial ITB device implanted at our center were followed to determine the proportion of patients with infectious and noninfectious complications, identify risk factors for infection and describe the clinical presentations, treatment and outcomes of infectious complications.

Results: Over the 15-year study period, 139 patients had an initial ITB device placed.

EMG and MRI are independently related to shoulder external rotation function in neonatal brachial plexus palsy.

Background: Few studies exist with regard to the ability of electromyography (EMG) and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the infraspinatus muscle to complement the physical assessment of active global shoulder external rotation (GER) in the neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships of EMG and MRI with active GER based on analysis of the infraspinatus muscle.

Methods: Seventy-four NBPP patients (mean age, 5 y 1 m; range, 1 y 1 m to 13 y 3 m) who had undergone physical examination of the shoulder, EMG evaluation of the infraspinatus muscle, and shoulder MRI were included in this study.

Acute progression of neuromuscular findings in infantile Pompe disease.

A 2-year-old girl with Pompe disease developed an acute worsening of muscle weakness during a hospitalization, and required intubation for an upper respiratory infection. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies produced results consistent with a severe chronic motor axonal peripheral polyneuropathy, with no evidence of reinnervation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated generalized hypomyelination and parenchymal volume loss, whereas magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggested neuronal injury and hypomyelination.

Hyperhidrosis in pediatric spinal cord injury: a case report and gabapentin therapy.

Hyperhidrosis is a relatively common condition with a multitude of causes. Spinal cord injury may be complicated by hyperhidrosis. Many forms of therapy have been reported for this phenomenon but few have been demonstrated to be efficacious.