Motor lesions in herpes zoster. Incidence and special features

In the review of 117 patients hospitalized for herpes zoster (HZ) during the 10-year-period of 1960-1969, six patients with motor paralysis of the limbs were found. The incidence of motor paralysis in HZ which ranges in the literature between 0.5 and 31%, was 18% in our series. Reasons for these differences are discussed. An uncommon feature, local recurrence of HZ with motor deficit pertaining to the same segments is reported, and joint subluxation, a rare complication of motor HZ, is also described. The importance of looking for diaphragmatic paralysis and motor deficit in the thoracoabdominal segments, not readily revealed in routine examination, is stressed.