Apraxia of eyelid opening after brain injury: a case report

Apraxia of eyelid opening (AEO) is a syndrome characterized by the patient's difficulty in initiating eyelid elevation spontaneously. Most of the reported cases were associated with extrapyramidal diseases. We report a case of AEO presented after traumatic brain injury, not with extrapyramidal diseases, and improved by dopaminergic treatment. A 49-year-old man underwent a traffic accident and was transferred to the emergency room in an unconscious state. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed a subdural and epidural hemorrhage at right temporal and bilateral frontal lobes, and he received burr-hole trephination. After receiving comprehensive treatment including occupational therapy, cognition and mobility gradually improved, but he could not open his eyes voluntarily. With dopaminergic treatment (levodopa/benserazide 200/50 mg), he started to open his eyes spontaneously, especially when eating and undergoing physical training. This case showed that AEO may occur after brain injury and that dopaminergic treatment is beneficial also in AEO patients without extrapyramidal diseases.