Paralysis of voluntary muscles means loss of contraction due to interruption of one or more motor pathways from the brain to the muscle fibers. Although the word paralysis is often used interchangeably to mean either complete or partial loss of muscle strength, it is preferable to use paralysis or plegia for complete or severe loss of muscle strength, and paresis for partial or slight loss. Motor paralysis results from deficits of the upper motor neurons (corticospinal, corticobulbar, or subcorticospinal). Motor paralysis is often accompanied by an impairment in the facility of movement.
Even though >25% of presentations are orthopaedic in nature, ranging from a limp to lower limb paralysis, neuroblastoma is a rare cause of limping in childhood and can therefore be easily missed by the admitting orthopaedic surgeon.
