Dr. Vijay Guleria, BPT MPT(Ortho) MSW. Physiotherapy advocate

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Barré-Lieou syndrome

Barré-Lieou syndrome

Barré-Lieou syndrome or Cervicocranial_Syndrome was discovered by and named after Jean Alexandre Barre, M.D., a French neurologist, and Yong-Choen Lieou, a Chinese physician. Each discovered the syndrome independently and described a very wide range of symptoms thought to be due to a dysfunction of the group of nerves called the posterior cervical sympathetic nervous system, located near the vertebrae in the neck. Therefore, this condition is often better known as cervicocranial syndrome and posterior cervical sympathetic syndrome.

Colour MRI


How does Barré-Lieou  Cervicocranial Syndrome develop?

Barré-Liéou  Cervicocranial syndrome is due to vertebral instability, which affects the function of the nerve cell aggregations located in the neck just in front of the vertebrae. Vertebral instability or misalignment occurs because the ligaments that support the neck become weakened or injured. This is what occurs in the commonly known whiplash injury.
This is to note that not only do neck and headache pain occur with whiplash injury, but also the signs and symptoms of Barré-Lieou syndrome.

This condition also may develop in people who spend a good portion of their day hunched over while working.
Any activity that precipitates the head forward position and puts the cervical vertebral ligaments in a stretched position will cause the ligaments to weaken over time.
The ligament laxity causes an even more head forward position as the ligaments can no longer keep the cervical vertebrae in their proper posterior alignment. Neck pain results and the cycle repeats itself.

What are the symptoms of Barré-Lieou and cervicocranial syndrome?

barre-lieou syndrome Symptoms that characterise Barré-Lieou   cervicocranial syndrome are
 1. headache,
2. facial pain,
3. ear pain, 4. vertigo,
5.  tinnitus,
6. loss of voice,
7.hoarseness,
8. neck pain,
9.severe fatigue,
10. muscle weakness,
11. sinus congestion,
12. a sense of the eyeball being pulled out,
13.numbness.

Other symptoms may include:

a pins-and-needles sensation of the hands and forearms,
corneal sensitivity,
dental pain,
lacrimation (tearing of the eyes),
blurred vision,
facial numbness,
shoulder pain,
swelling on one side of the face,
nausea, vomiting.

Hands On Techniques by physiotherapists can help allievate and treat this Syndrome.
Contact you nearest physiotherapist.




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