Patients with severe COVID-19 have an increased risk for peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs), which may result in long-term neurologic impairment, suggests a new study.

The retrospective study assessed the incidence and anatomic distribution of PNIs in patients who survived severe COVID-19 infection. In the first part, 34 patients who had been admitted to one of three academic medical centers in Illinois from April 2020 through March 2021 were included. In the second part, prior case series were evaluated which included at least five patients diagnosed with PNIs after severe COVID-19. In a proof-of-concept study, two patients admitted to the ICU for severe COVID-19 were assessed using a wireless pressure sensor system applied to the skin on the elbow. 

At one of the hospitals included in the study, PNIs were noted in 10.7% of patients admitted after severe COVID-19, compared to 0.6% of patients admitted for other reasons. Among the 34 patients included in the retrospective study, 66 PNIs were noted, with an average of 1.9 ± 1.2 PNIs per patient (range 1-6). Around 53% of patients had two or more PNI sites. A review of prior case studies revealed 117 nerve injuries in 58 patients. Combining data from the retrospective study and the previous cases revealed that the ulnar nerve was involved in 25.1% of PNIs. The study suggested that nerve damage occurs as a result of mechanical stress over a bony prominence. Additionally, using a wireless pressure sensor may help prevent neurological damage in patients having a risk of developing PNIs… (Medscape)