Comparison between Flail Arm Syndrome and Upper Limb Onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Clinical Features and Electromyographic Findings.
- Author:
Byung Nam YOON
1
;
Seong Hye CHOI
;
Joung Ho RHA
;
Sa Yoon KANG
;
Kwang Woo LEE
;
Jung Joon SUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: flail arm syndrome; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; brachial amyotrophic diplegia; electromyography; motor neuron disease
- MeSH: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis*; Arm*; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Electromyography; Fasciculation; Humans; Lower Extremity; Motor Neuron Disease; Motor Neurons; Muscles; Respiratory Muscles; Upper Extremity*
- From:Experimental Neurobiology 2014;23(3):253-257
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Flail arm syndrome (FAS), an atypical presentation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is characterized by progressive, predominantly proximal, weakness of upper limbs, without involvement of the lower limb, bulbar, or respiratory muscles. When encountering a patient who presents with this symptomatic profile, possible diagnoses include upper limb onset ALS (UL-ALS), and FAS. The lack of information regarding FAS may make differential diagnosis between FAS and UL-ALS difficult in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and electromyographic findings from patients diagnosed with FAS with those from patients diagnosed with UL-ALS. To accomplish this, 18 patients with FAS and 56 patients with UL-ALS were examined. Significant differences were observed between the 2 groups pertaining to the rate of fasciculation, patterns of predominantly affected muscles, and the Medical Research Council scale of the weakest muscle. The presence of upper motor neuron signs and lower motor neuron involvement evidenced through electromyography showed no significant between-group differences.
