Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 are neurotropic viruses that can be reactivated after a surgical or stressful intervention. Although such cases are uncommon, consequences can be debilitating, and variable treatment responses merit consideration. We describe a 41-year-ol...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2013-01-01
|
| Series: | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/647486 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832562254807040000 |
|---|---|
| author | Doniel Drazin George Hanna Faris Shweikeh Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely Richard Sokolov John C. Liu |
| author_facet | Doniel Drazin George Hanna Faris Shweikeh Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely Richard Sokolov John C. Liu |
| author_sort | Doniel Drazin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 are neurotropic viruses that can be reactivated after a surgical or stressful intervention. Although such cases are uncommon, consequences can be debilitating, and variable treatment responses merit consideration. We describe a 41-year-old male with a history of varicella-mediated skin eruptions, who presented with continuing right arm pain, burning, and numbness in a C6 dermatomal distribution following a C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and epidural steroid injections. The operative course was uncomplicated and he was discharged home on postoperative day 1. Approximately ten days after surgery, the patient presented to the emergency department complaining of severe pain in his right upper extremity and a vesicular rash from his elbow to his second digit. He was started on Acyclovir and discharged home. On outpatient follow-up, his rash had resolved though his pain continued. The patient was started on a neuromodulating agent for chronic pain. This case adds to the limited literature regarding this rare complication, brings attention to the symptoms for proper diagnosis and treatment, and emphasizes the importance of prompt antiviral therapy. We suggest adding a neuromodulating agent to prevent long-term sequelae and resolve acute symptoms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-351593cc616d416098c7e3a6b80b75cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6625 2090-6633 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-351593cc616d416098c7e3a6b80b75cc2025-02-03T01:23:01ZengWileyCase Reports in Infectious Diseases2090-66252090-66332013-01-01201310.1155/2013/647486647486Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the LiteratureDoniel Drazin0George Hanna1Faris Shweikeh2Sunil Jeswani3Leah Lovely4Richard Sokolov5John C. Liu6Department of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USADepartment of Neurosurgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USAVaricella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 are neurotropic viruses that can be reactivated after a surgical or stressful intervention. Although such cases are uncommon, consequences can be debilitating, and variable treatment responses merit consideration. We describe a 41-year-old male with a history of varicella-mediated skin eruptions, who presented with continuing right arm pain, burning, and numbness in a C6 dermatomal distribution following a C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and epidural steroid injections. The operative course was uncomplicated and he was discharged home on postoperative day 1. Approximately ten days after surgery, the patient presented to the emergency department complaining of severe pain in his right upper extremity and a vesicular rash from his elbow to his second digit. He was started on Acyclovir and discharged home. On outpatient follow-up, his rash had resolved though his pain continued. The patient was started on a neuromodulating agent for chronic pain. This case adds to the limited literature regarding this rare complication, brings attention to the symptoms for proper diagnosis and treatment, and emphasizes the importance of prompt antiviral therapy. We suggest adding a neuromodulating agent to prevent long-term sequelae and resolve acute symptoms.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/647486 |
| spellingShingle | Doniel Drazin George Hanna Faris Shweikeh Sunil Jeswani Leah Lovely Richard Sokolov John C. Liu Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| title | Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | varicella zoster mediated radiculitis reactivation following cervical spine surgery case report and review of the literature |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/647486 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT donieldrazin varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT georgehanna varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT farisshweikeh varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT suniljeswani varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT leahlovely varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT richardsokolov varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature AT johncliu varicellazostermediatedradiculitisreactivationfollowingcervicalspinesurgerycasereportandreviewoftheliterature |