Traumatic Brain Injury and Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Tale of an Illicit Affair—Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

Abstract

AbstractGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a common entity in neurology clinics. A variety of etiologies have been implicated in the presentation of GBS. Although rarely reported, traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been reported to cause GBS. In this article, we report a similar case of GBS that occurred following TBI and the patient presented with acute flaccid paraparesis with intact strength in upper limbs. Paraparesis progressed to quadriparesis simulating a case of spinal injury, without any correlating imaging findings. Nerve conduction study findings, cerebrospinal fluid studies, and clinical examination led to the diagnosis of post-TBI GBS. A review of similar cases reported in literature is also attached. High index of suspicion should be maintained for GBS in all cases of imaging-negative post-TBI limb weakness which may simulate acute spinal injury.