Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with muscle and nerve injuries as a consequence of prolonged critical illness or the infection itself. In this study, we evaluated neuromuscular involvement in patients who underwent post-acute intensive rehabilitation after COVID-19. Methods: Clinical and neurophysiological evaluations, including nerve conduction studies and electromyography, were performed on 21 consecutive patients admitted for rehabilitation after COVID-19. Results: Clinical signs suggesting muscle or nerve involvement (weakness, reduced deep tendon reflexes, impaired sensitivity, abnormal gait) were found in 19 patients. Neurophysiological examinations confirmed neuromuscular involvement in 17 patients: a likely association of critical illness myopathy (CIM) and critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) was found in 5 patients; CIM alone was found in 4 patients; axonal sensory-motor polyneuropathy was found in 4 patients (CIP in 2 patients, metabolic polyneuropathy in 2 patients); Guillain-Barré syndrome was found in 2 patients (classical demyelinating sensory-motor polyneuropathy and acute motor axonal neuropathy, respectively); peroneal nerve injury was found in 1 patient; and pre-existing L4 radiculopathy was found in 1 patient. Conclusions: Neuromuscular involvement is a very common finding among patients admitted for rehabilitation after COVID-19, and proper investigation should be conducted when muscle or nerve injury is suspected for adequate rehabilitative strategy planning.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Guillain-Barré syndrome, neurological manifestations, Critical illness polyneuropathy, electromyography, Acute motor axonal neuropathy, critical illness myopathy, peripheral nerve injury, demyelinating sensory-motor polyneuropathy, positioning nerve injury, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019, Infection, rehabilitation, sensitivity, clinical, Patient, Intensive, Critical, patients, association, Injury, Neuromuscular, syndrome, weakness, Clinical sign, classical, performed, evaluated, conducted, reduced, consecutive patient, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Neuromuscular, Involvement,