What is it about?
Neurological examination nomenclature is classical and traditional. However, recent terms have brought more confusion to describe already known entities. Paraplegia (crural) classically refers to absence of muscle strength in lower limbs while paraparesis refers to the impairment of muscle strength. Complete and incomplete paraplegia were terms created unnecessarily, and in our vision, incorrectly to describe these entities.
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Why is it important?
The basis of communication is the meaning of the terms . There is no reason to replace classical neurological nomenclature with terms such as complete or incomplete paraplegia.
Perspectives
During neurosurgery residency, learning of semiological neurology and its nomenclatures precede learning of the most recent nomenclatures and classifications of spine injuries. Paraplegia, paraparesis, complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCI) are well known terms. Despite, incomplete paraplegia and complete paraplegia are confusing and do not add advantages to the SCI nomenclature.
Dr Alecio Cristino Evangelista Santos Barcelos
Hospital Estadual de Emergência e Trauma Senador Humberto Lucena
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Paraparesis or incomplete paraplegia? How should we call it?, Acta Neurochirurgica, March 2009, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s00701-009-0238-0.
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