Herpetic shoulder paresis in a Chinese elderly patient

TCC Tam, KY Chan, SL Ho, JKH Luk, LW Chu
Acute Geriatrics Unit, Grantham Hospital, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong


A patient with left shoulder girdle weakness secondary to herpetic myotomal paresis is reported. Needle electromyography revealed denervational discharge from the left supraspinatus, deltoid, and brachioradialis muscles, compatible with a radiculopathy that was relevant to his myotomes affected by zoster infection. The patient was managed with range-of-movement and strengthening exercises as well as pain relief for post-herpetic neuralgia. Further studies are required to determine whether antiviral treatment can limit the extent of motor deficit and hasten recovery. Zoster paresis should be one of the differential diagnoses of girdle muscle weakness.

Hong Kong Med J 2005;11:399-402

Key words: Aged; Herpes zoster; Paresis