palsy
(pal'zē 
)
[Fr. palesie, paralisie, fr L. paralysis, fr Gr. paralysis, loosening, disabling]
Paralysis.
SEE: birth paralysis.
SEE: birth paralysis.
bulbar p.Palsy caused by degeneration of the nuclear cells of the lower cranial nerves. This causes progressive muscular paralysis.
ABBR: CP
SEE: cerebral palsy.
crutch p.Paralysis resulting from pressure on nerves in the axilla from use of a crutch.
SEE: decompression illness.
SEE: Duchenne-Erb paralysis.
SEE: Bell palsy.
SEE: Bell palsy.
lateral gaze p.In ophthalmology, an inability to make conjugate, horizontal eye movements in one or both directions.
lead p.Paralysis of the extremities in lead poisoning.
mercurial p.Paralysis induced by mercury poisoning.
night p.A form of paresthesia characterized by numbness, esp. at night.
peroneal nerve p.Paralysis of the peroneal nerve, often caused by automobile accidents in which a pedestrian's leg is injured, by fractures of the tibia, or by other occurrences of nerve disruption or compression. It produces footdrop.
SEE: compression paralysis.
progressive supranuclear p.A chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which features of symmetrical Parkinson disease are combined with dementia, falls, impaired gait, and vertical gaze paresis.
The disease is most often found in men over the age of 60.
It is caused by damage to cells in the frontal lobes, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum and the brainstem.
Patients often report unsteadiness when walking. They fall frequently, are forgetful, have difficulty swallowing and initiating movements. Parkinsonian tremors are often present. Partners or family members of PSP patients may note apathy and other personality changes (such as increased irritability, frustration and moodiness), and gradually worsening loss of language and other cognitive functions. Signs include loss of facial expressiveness, facial muscle jerking, arm and leg rigidity, and reduced eye movements, esp. up or down movements of the eyes.
The diagnosis is made clinically but can be difficult to distinguish from Parkinson disease and multiple systems atrophy, esp. during its early phases. One feature that distinguishes PSP from Parkinson disease is preservation of the sense of smell in PSP. MR imaging of the brain may demonstrate loss of brainstem parenchyma (the “hummingbird sign”).
No curative treatments are currently known for PSP. Some patients respond for a while to drugs such as levodopa-carbidopa which alleviate the Parkinsonian symptoms.
Progressive neurological deterioration over the course of 5 to 10 years is typical.
Learning to use a walker, removing loose rugs from flooring, and keeping a home well lit reduce the risk of falling. Architectural modifications in bathtubs and showers (such as grab-bars) may prevent falls in these wet and slippery environments. Maintaining familiar visual and auditory cues helps patients with dementia recognize their surroundings. Affixing labels to objects, cabinets, closets, and rooms in the home may alleviate frustrations and facilitate functional use of the kitchen and its appliances, the telephone, and other commonly used objects.
When the burdening of managing PSP at home exceeds the supportive capacity of caregivers, families may contract with professional caregivers for respite, or may need to pursue nursing home placement.
SYN: Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome.Saturday night p.Paralysis due to prolonged ischemia of the musculospiral nerve incident to compressing an arm against a hard edge. It occurs if the patient has been comatose or in a stupor or has fallen asleep with the arm hanging over the edge of a bed or chair. In some cultures individuals traditionally become intoxicated on Saturday night; while stuporous, they may remain in a position that allows nerve compression. SYN: musculospiral paralysis; radial paralysis; Saturday night paralysis; Sunday morning paralysis.
SEE: writer's cramp.
shaking p.An archaic term for Parkinson's disease.
SEE: spinal muscular atrophy.