Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 8, 2025

Author Spotlight: Bridging Gaps in Anatomy and Establishing a Foundation for Algorithmic Studies
Published on: December 15, 2023
Peripheral neurological complications during COVID-19: A single center experience
Nara Miriam Michaelson1, Ashwin Malhotra1, Zehui Wang1
1New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Department of Neurology, New York, NY, United States of America.
Peripheral neurologic complications, including neuropathies and plexopathies, affect over half of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. These conditions may stem from micro-thrombotic nerve ischemia, a potential manifestation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health emergency.
- Peripheral neurologic complications are increasingly recognized in patients with COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and types of peripheral neurologic complications in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying these complications.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of 25 patients admitted to a COVID-19 Recovery Unit after intensive care.
- Neurologic consultations for weakness and/or paresthesias.
- Electrodiagnostic studies, MRI, and nerve/muscle biopsies were utilized for diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Fourteen out of 25 patients (56%) exhibited peripheral neurologic complications.
- Identified complications included plexopathies, peripheral neuropathies, and entrapment neuropathies.
- Multiple concurrent types of peripheral neuropathy were observed in some patients.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral neurologic complications are a significant finding in a subset of COVID-19 patients.
- These complications may represent a manifestation of the COVID-19 disease spectrum.
- Micro-thrombotic induced nerve ischemia is a potential underlying mechanism.
Related Concept Videos
Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
Peripheral Artery Disease I: Introduction
Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Peripheral Nervous System: Ganglia and Nerves
Nerves
The nerve is a bundle of axons that serves as the communication highway in the PNS. Each nerve is ensheathed in a protective layer of connective tissue called the epineurium. This outermost layer safeguards the nerve and supports the...
Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management

