Work

Clinical Problem Solving: Two Patients With Gait Instability and Difficulty With Hand Coordination

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Subacute-to-chronic gait instability has a broad differential diagnosis. The neurological exam can help elucidate the localization and suggest an underlying etiology of the symptomatology, which can lead to a more focused diagnostic approach. Two patients are described - 1 with a month of worsening difficulty with ambulation that evolved to bilateral hand discoordination and another with 18 months of progressive difficulty with ambulation that also then progressed to involve her bilateral hands. These cases highlight an approach to gait dysfunction with hand discoordination secondary to sensory ataxia. The patients were ultimately diagnosed with copper deficiency myelopathy secondary to zinc excess, and different treatment regimens are discussed.

Source: The Neurohospitalist

DOI: 10.1177/19418744251314210

Authors: Trevor Glenn, Amine Awad, Galina Gheihman, Alexis Roy

Institutions: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, Harvard University

Language: English

Topic: Trace Elements in Health

Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics

Field: Nursing

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4406271453