Distal Weakness
June 30th, 2019
Overview
Distal weakness is more commonly a manifestation of neuropathy, though may also occur in certain muscular conditions.
Signs of Distal Weakness
- Wasting of the small muscles of the hand
- Foot drop
- Distal weakness - particularly affecting the hands, wrists and ankles
- Distal functional impairment - difficulty opening jars, turning a key, buttoning a shirt
Causes of Distal Weakness
Unilateral
- Radiculopathy (C8/T1)
- Brachial plexopathy
- Peripheral nerve lesion
Bilateral
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
- Multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block
- Motor neurone disease
- Inclusion body myositis
- Myotonic dystrophy
- Congenital distal myopathies
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