Unusual sensory-motor neuropathies in post-COVID-19 patients admitted in rehabilitation hospitals: a case-series

BACKGROUND: Several neurological complications occurred in SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19), mainly related to inflammatory and vascular disorders. The involvement of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) has been mostly reported as Guillain-Barré Syndrome, while focal peripheral neuropathies have been rarely described. CASE REPORT: We report the cases of ten patients hospitalized in Rehabilitation Units after COVID-19, who presented severe focal motor involvement. Electrophysiological investigations revealed focal sensory-motor neuropathies, atypical for many aspects: bilaterality, location and contemporary involvement of different nervous districts. We speculate that their pathogenesis is possibly related to prolonged abnormal postures maintained during hospitalization in Intensive Care Unit, virus neurotropism and thrombotic vascular damage involving vasa nervorum. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Motor neuropathies could induce severe disability and their early recognition in post COVID-19 patients is of primary importance for a specific rehabilitation treatment.