Involuntary Flexor Spasms Associated with Basal Ganglia Infarction

ABSTRACT

Flexor spasm caused by stroke has been rarely reported. We describe a 79-year-old man who suddenly presented with flexor spasm of left limb and neck muscles. His symptoms consisted of recurrent episodes of brief paroxysmal flexor contractions of left limb and neck muscles without alteration of consciousness. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed acute infarction in right basal ganglia. The abnormal movement was not associated with any epileptiform discharges in the video-electroencephalography monitoring. It was controlled with carbamazepine and phenytoin.