Chronic Nutritional Polyneuropathy After Bariatric Surgery: A Rare Case With A Common Presentation

With rising frequency of bariatric surgery, the common adverse effects of that procedure is more frequently encountered. Our patient unluckily developed pulmonary embolism after 3 months of bariatric surgery and that clinic picture was aggravated with proximal lower extremity weakness and numbness. Electromyography performed on admission revealed asymmetric polyradiculopathy with axonal degeneration, whereas somatosensory evoked potentials showed no tibial peripheric and cortical responses. Although we found no sign of malabsorption (except 25 OH vitamin D deficiency), the history of weight loss of 70 kg within 3 months after the surgery led us to the diagnosis of nutritional polyneuropathy. On the other hand, neuropathic pain in our patient responded well to pregabalin and, after strengthening of muscles via rehabilitation, the patient gained independent mobility again. Turk J Phys Med Re-hab 2012;58:151-3.