Background Peripheral nerve injury rarely occurs in patients with rhabdomyolysis. Based on our experience and previous reports, we consider prolonged immobilization a risk factor for the development of peripheral neuropathy in rhabdomyolysis patients.
Methods This study analyzed 28 patients with rhabdomyolysis due to prolonged immobilization. We analyzed their demographic and laboratory data, clinical and imaging findings, and outcomes, and compared these factors between patients with and without neuropathy.
Results Seven of the 28 patients had peripheral neuropathy, including sciatic neuropathy or lumbosacral plexopathy. Compared to those without neuropathy, the patients with neuropathy were younger (p = 0.02), had higher peak creatine kinase (CK) levels (p = 0.02), had higher muscle uptake in bone scans (p = 0.03), and more frequently exhibited abnormal muscle findings in computed tomography (CT) (p = 0.004).
Conclusions Patients with prolonged immobilization-induced rhabdomyolysis and neuropathy had higher CK levels, increased uptake on bone scans, and more-frequent abnormal muscles on CT than those without neuropathy. These findings indicate that peripheral neuropathy is more likely to develop in patients with severe muscle injury.
Citations
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Crushing Muscles: A Case Study on Rhabdomyolysis, Renal Failure, and Compartment Syndrome Triggered by Pre-Workout Supplement Abuse Faryal Altaf, Vedangkumar Bhatt, Sindhaghatta Venkatram, Gilda Diaz-fuentes Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Foot drop secondary to rhabdomyolysis: improved foot dorsiflexion and gait after neurolysis and distal nerve transfer—a case series and literature review Rahul K Nath, Chandra Somasundaram Journal of Surgical Case Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
A Rare Complication of Rhabdomyolysis: Peripheral Neuropathy Chidinma Ejikeme, Ramez Alyacoub, Sherif Elkattawy, Tanya Shankar, Ruhin Yuridullah Cureus.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
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