INCREASED SPASTICITY IN A CHRONIC SPINAL-CORD INJURY PATIENT AFTER SCABIES INFESTATION - A CASE-REPORT

Spasticity is a common feature of spinal cord injury (SCI). Spasticity exacerbation is commonly encountered with nociceptive and exterocepti ve stimuli including bladder and bowel dysfunction, pressure sores, co ntracture, tight-fitting leg bags and clothing, and ingrown toenail. T his report describes a patient with chronic SCI (T4 level) who complai ned of increasing spasticity of bilateral lower extremities for 5 week s. He also had skin lesions on different parts of his body, accompanie d by itching above the spinal cord lesion level. A clinical diagnosis of scabies was made and pharmacologic treatment was initiated. Followi ng treatment, spasticity was significantly reduced and the skin rash w ith itching faded out. This report is the first of scabies skin infest ation lesions triggering exacerbation of spasticity in an SCI patient. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.