Definition
- Hypocalcemic tetany is the acute neuromuscular syndrome that follows severe hypoparathyroidism.
Etiology and Onset
- Parathyroid glands are commonly removed by mistake along with thyroid tissue during thyroid surgery, producing severe hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemic tetany.
- Tetany symptoms develop 24 to 48 hours after such surgery.
Clinical Features
Signs of hypocalcemic tetany
Sign
Chvostek's sign
- Finding
- Quick contraction of facial muscles on tapping over the facial nerve at the angle of the jaw
Trousseau's sign
- Finding
- Spasm of the upper limb: flexion of the wrist and thumb (metacarpophalangeal flexion) with extension of the fingers (interphalangeal extension)
Carpopedal spasm
- Finding
- Combined spasm at the wrist and ankle joints