Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare diagnosis in which patients present with quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism. It is clinically difficult to differentiate from other similarly presenting diagnoses with no standard approach for assessing such poorly responsive patients. The purp...

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Main Authors: Lauren Surdyke, Jennifer Fernandez, Hannah Foster, Pamela Spigel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/6167052
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author Lauren Surdyke
Jennifer Fernandez
Hannah Foster
Pamela Spigel
author_facet Lauren Surdyke
Jennifer Fernandez
Hannah Foster
Pamela Spigel
author_sort Lauren Surdyke
collection DOAJ
description Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare diagnosis in which patients present with quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism. It is clinically difficult to differentiate from other similarly presenting diagnoses with no standard approach for assessing such poorly responsive patients. The purpose of this case is to highlight the clinical differential diagnosis process and outcomes of a patient with LIS during acute inpatient rehabilitation. A 32-year-old female was admitted following traumatic brain injury. She presented with quadriplegia and mutism but was awake and aroused based on eye gaze communication. The rehabilitation team was able to diagnose incomplete LIS based on knowledge of neuroanatomy and clinical reasoning. Establishing this diagnosis allowed for an individualized treatment plan that focused on communication, coping, family training, and discharge planning. The patient was ultimately able to discharge home with a single caregiver, improving her quality of life. Continued evidence highlights the benefits of intensive comprehensive therapy for those with acquired brain injury such as LIS, but access is still limited for those with a seemingly poor prognosis. Access to a multidisciplinary, specialized team provides opportunity for continued assessment and individualized treatment as the patient attains more medical stability, improving long-term management.
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spelling doaj-art-19f694a2f59e48cbb810c5c38cec4e9c2025-08-20T03:54:21ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762017-01-01201710.1155/2017/61670526167052Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain InjuryLauren Surdyke0Jennifer Fernandez1Hannah Foster2Pamela Spigel3Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3599 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216, USABrooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3599 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216, USABrooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3599 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216, USABrooks Rehabilitation Hospital, 3599 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216, USALocked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare diagnosis in which patients present with quadriplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and mutism. It is clinically difficult to differentiate from other similarly presenting diagnoses with no standard approach for assessing such poorly responsive patients. The purpose of this case is to highlight the clinical differential diagnosis process and outcomes of a patient with LIS during acute inpatient rehabilitation. A 32-year-old female was admitted following traumatic brain injury. She presented with quadriplegia and mutism but was awake and aroused based on eye gaze communication. The rehabilitation team was able to diagnose incomplete LIS based on knowledge of neuroanatomy and clinical reasoning. Establishing this diagnosis allowed for an individualized treatment plan that focused on communication, coping, family training, and discharge planning. The patient was ultimately able to discharge home with a single caregiver, improving her quality of life. Continued evidence highlights the benefits of intensive comprehensive therapy for those with acquired brain injury such as LIS, but access is still limited for those with a seemingly poor prognosis. Access to a multidisciplinary, specialized team provides opportunity for continued assessment and individualized treatment as the patient attains more medical stability, improving long-term management.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/6167052
spellingShingle Lauren Surdyke
Jennifer Fernandez
Hannah Foster
Pamela Spigel
Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
Case Reports in Neurological Medicine
title Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
title_full Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
title_fullStr Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
title_full_unstemmed Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
title_short Differential Diagnosis and Management of Incomplete Locked-In Syndrome after Traumatic Brain Injury
title_sort differential diagnosis and management of incomplete locked in syndrome after traumatic brain injury
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/6167052
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