Tabes dorsalis,, also called Progressive Locomotor Ataxia, rare neurologic form of tertiary syphilis, involving sensory deficits, loss of neuromuscular coordination, and diminished reflexes.
A physical exam can confirm that the sciatic nerve is involved, and I look for weakness or diminished reflexes in the legs that suggest that someone needs early referral to a specialist.
Case 6 presented with hypotonia, diminished reflexes and delayed motor milestones; at the age of 15 months, she could not stand or crawl.
On day 30, the patient was transferred for rehabilitation with flaccid, areflexic paralysis in the right leg and variable weakness and diminished reflexes in all other limbs.
Sensory deficits, living alone, advanced age, musculoskeletal weakness, improper footwear, diminished reflexes and coordination, medications, and comordid conditions may contribute to a propensity for falls in this population.
The observed neurological signs included limb weakness, particularly forelimb weakness, diminished reflexes, ataxia, myoclonic jerk, convulsions and in some pigs, irritability and involuntary movements of the mouth, facial muscles and ears.
Therefore, subjects who demonstrated any of the following also were excluded: 1) radiating pain below the level of the buttock(s), 2) sensation changes in the lower extremities, 3) diminished reflexes, 4) lower extremity weakness, 5) urinary or fecal incontinence, and 6) increased peripheral pain with repeated lumbar extension.
Vitamin deficiency associated with alcoholism can also lead to polyneuropathy, a degenerative disease of the peripheral nerves with symptoms that include tenderness of calf muscles, diminished tendon reflexes, and loss of vibratory sensation.
In initial assessments, all patients had bilateral symmetrical weakness both proximal and distal, absent or diminished deep reflexes mainly the ankle jerk; 5 (25%) patients had equivocal planter response; 4 (20%) had unilateral facial palsy; 3 (15%) had facial diplegia; and 3 (15%) had bulbar symptoms.
However, the transection of pelvic nerves diminished these reflexes [ 25].
