Age and Ageing Advance Access originally published online on March 10, 2009
Age and Ageing 2009 38(3):260-266; doi:10.1093/ageing/afp020
Review |
Movement disorders after stroke
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN, UK
Address correspondence to: D. Dutta. Tel: (+44) 8454 226321; Fax: (+44) 8454 226326; Email: dipankar.dutta{at}glos.nhs.uk
Many different types of hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders have been reported after ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. We searched the Medline database from 1966 to February 2008, retrieving 2942 articles from which 156 relevant case reports, case series and review articles were identified. The papers were then further reviewed and filtered and secondary references found. Here we review the different types of abnormal movements reported with anatomical correlation, epidemiology, treatment and prognosis. Post stroke movement disorders can present acutely or as a delayed sequel. They can be hyperkinetic (most commonly hemichorea-hemiballism) or hypokinetic (most commonly vascular parkinsonism). Most are caused by lesions in the basal ganglia or thalamus but can occur with strokes at many different locations in the motor circuit. Many are self limiting but treatment may be required for symptom control.
Keywords: stroke, chorea, hemiballismus, dystonia, parkinsonism, elderly
Received 30 September 2008; accepted in revised form 21 January 2009.