Measuring hand intrinsic muscle strength: normal values and interrater reliability.

Background: The intrinsic muscles of the hand are of interest in spinal cord injury (SCI) and other myelopathies, because they are innervated by the most caudal cord segments innervating the upper limb. In addition, abnormalities of the peripheral nervous system, such as peripheral nerve entrapments, often affect hand intrinsic muscle strength of SCI patients. Therefore, measuring hand intrinsic strength may allow for early diagnosis of neurologic decline.

Functional recovery from paraplegia caused by syphilitic meningomyelitis.

Background: Syphilitic involvement of the nervous system can present in many different ways. We report a patient who presented with rapidly evolving paraparesis secondary to syphilitic meningomyelitis.

Methods: Case report.