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Asphyxiation Causing Distinctive Basal Ganglia Injury and Generalized Dystonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

Katie M. Wiltshire*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Kenneth Myers
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Xing-Chang Wei
Affiliation:
Diagnostic Imaging, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ismail Mohamed
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary
*
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
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A previously healthy five year-old boy was seen after intermittent strangulation attempts over the course of two days. Details of the event are vague due to lack of reliable adult witnesses. There was no indication of toxic exposure. General examination on arrival to the emergency department revealed an alert boy with bruising of the neck consistent with multiple strangulation attempts. There was no evidence of heart, kidney, or liver involvement to suggest systemic hypoperfusion or organ failure. Investigations done on arrival showed no acidosis, and a capillary blood gas 48 hours later revealed a normal carboxyhemoglobin. Although the initial neurologic exam was near normal, severe generalized dystonia developed over the next four weeks, requiring intrathecal baclofen treatment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2011

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