Peripherally induced movement disorders

Hemimasticatory spasm: a series of 17 cases and a comprehensive review of the literature

Hemimasticatory spasm (HMS) is a rare movement disorder characterized by paroxysmal spasms or twitches of the unilateral jaw-closing muscles. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the clinical features of patients with HMS. Data from 17 patients newly diagnosed with HMS (12 females and 5 males; mean age at onset: 46.7 years) who visited our department were retrospectively analyzed, and a literature search based on electronic medical databases from their inception until November 30, 2023, was conducted. A manual search was conducted for articles cited in the related literature. A total of 117 cases (72 females and 45 males; mean age at onset: 37.1 years) from 57 studies were analyzed. The muscles involved were the masseter (97.4%), temporalis (47.9%), and medial pterygoid (6%). Morphea or scleroderma was observed in 23.9% of the patients, and facial hemiatrophy in 27.4%. In 17.9% of the cases, Parry-Romberg syndrome was either complicated or suspected. Typical electromyographic findings included the absence of a silent period during spasms (23.9%) and irregular brief bursts of multiple motor unit potentials. Oral medicines, such as clonazepam or carbamazepine, alleviated the symptoms for some patients but were often unsatisfactory. Botulinum toxin therapy was effective in most cases. Recently, microvascular decompression surgery is increasingly being used, resulting in complete relief in some cases. In conclusion, highly effective modalities are currently available, and it is necessary to raise awareness of HMS to ensure that it can be diagnosed and treated accurately by both medical and dental professionals.

Peripherally-induced Movement Disorders: An Update

Background

Peripherally-induced movement disorders (PIMD) should be considered when involuntary or abnormal movements emerge shortly after an injury to a body part. A close topographic and temporal association between peripheral injury and onset of the movement disorders is crucial to diagnosing PIMD. PIMD is under-recognized and often misdiagnosed as functional movement disorder, although both may co-exist. Given the considerable diagnostic, therapeutic, and psychosocial-legal challenges associated with PIMD, it is crucial to update the clinical and scientific information about this important movement disorder.

Methods

A comprehensive PubMed search through a broad range of keywords and combinations was performed in February 2023 to identify relevant articles for this narrative review.

Results

The spectrum of the phenomenology of PIMD is broad and it encompasses both hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movements. Hemifacial spasm is probably the most common PIMD. Others include dystonia, tremor, parkinsonism, myoclonus, painful leg moving toe syndrome, tics, polyminimyoclonus, and amputation stump dyskinesia. We also highlight conditions such as neuropathic tremor, pseudoathetosis, and MYBPC1-associated myogenic tremor as examples of PIMD.

Discussion

There is considerable heterogeneity among PIMD in terms of severity and nature of injury, natural course, association with pain, and response to treatment. As some patients may have co-existing functional movement disorder, neurologists should be able to differentiate the two disorders. While the exact pathophysiology remains elusive, aberrant central sensitization after peripheral stimuli and maladaptive plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex, on a background of genetic (two-hit hypothesis) or other predisposition, seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of PIMD.

Successful treatment of focal hand dystonia after cervical whiplash injury by thalamotomy

Background:

Posttraumatic focal hand dystonia after cervical whiplash injury is rare. Moreover, the treatment of peripheral posttraumatic dystonia is usually ineffective. Herein, we report a case of successful thalamotomy for a patient with focal hand dystonia after cervical whiplash injury.

Case Description:

A 39-year-old woman was hit from behind by a car; subsequently, she felt strange in the right hand and was diagnosed with whiplash injury. A month later, she developed a persistent abnormal posture of the right hand. Brain imaging showed no lesions, and cervical magnetic resonance imaging showed stenosis but no spinal cord signal changes. Posttraumatic dystonia was diagnosed, for which the patient underwent left ventro-oral (Vo) thalamotomy. One year after the first surgery, the patient underwent left Vo and ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim) thalamotomy due to recurrence of dystonia. Nine years after the second surgery, the patient continues to be able to maintain her normal physical routine.

Conclusion:

Vo-Vim thalamotomy may be a feasible and effective treatment for focal hand dystonia after cervical whiplash injury.

Dystonia, chorea, hemiballismus and other dyskinesias

Hyperkinesias are heterogeneous involuntary movements that significantly differ in terms of clinical and semeiological manifestations, including rhythm, regularity, speed, duration, and other factors that determine their appearance or suppression. Hyperkinesias are due to complex, variable, and largely undefined pathophysiological mechanisms that may involve different brain areas. In this chapter, we specifically focus on dystonia, chorea and hemiballismus, and other dyskinesias, specifically, levodopa-induced, tardive, and cranial dyskinesia. We address the role of neurophysiological studies aimed at explaining the pathophysiology of these conditions. We mainly refer to human studies using surface and invasive in-depth recordings, as well as spinal, brainstem, and transcortical reflexology and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. We discuss the extent to which the neurophysiological abnormalities observed in hyperkinesias may be explained by pathophysiological models. We highlight the most relevant issues that deserve future research efforts. The potential role of neurophysiological assessment in the clinical context of hyperkinesia is also discussed.

Sports-Related Dystonia

Background

Task-specific dystonia (TSD) is a form of focal dystonia that occurs in the context of the performance of selective, highly skilled, often repetitive, motor activity. TSD may be apparent during certain tasks such as writing, playing musical instruments, or other activities requiring fine motor control, but may also occur during certain sports, and maybe detrimental to professional athletes' careers. Therefore, sports physicians and movement disorder neurologists need to be aware of the presentation and phenomenology of sports-related dystonia (SRD), the topic of this review.

Methods

A broad PubMed search using a wide range of keywords and combinations was done in October 2021 to identify suitable articles for this review.

Results

Most of the publications are on yips in golfers and on runners' dystonia. Other sports in which SRD has been reported are ice skating, tennis, table tennis, pistol shooting, petanque, baseball, and billiards.

Discussion

Yips, which may affect up to half of the golfers and rarely athletes in other sports (e.g., baseball, cricket, basketball, speed skating, gymnastics) seems to be a multi-factorial form of TSD that is particularly troublesome in highly skilled professional golfers. Runners' dystonia, affecting the foot, leg, and hip (in decreasing order), may evolve into more generalized and less specific dystonia. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of SRD are not well understood. Botulinum toxin has been reported to alleviate dystonia in golfers', runners', and other forms of SRD. Future studies should utilize neurophysiologic, imaging, and other techniques to elucidate mechanisms of this underrecognized group of movement disorders.

Hemifacial spasm is not affected by state of consciousness: a case report

BACKGROUND

 Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a movement disorder caused by mechanical compression of the facial nerve after it has left the brainstem and is characterized by brief or sustained twitching of the muscles innervated by that nerve. Often we observe spasm in an awakening situation. Actually contractions persist during sleep. To our knowledge, there were no reports on how HFS manifests under disturbance of consciousness. Here, we report a case of primary HFS in which the patient's symptoms persisted in a coma.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 74-year-old female with right-sided primary HFS for 20 years and had received botulinum toxin injections in our hospital. Unfortunately she was carried to emergency department after traumatic right pneumothorax by accident. During the emergency treatment, she lost consciousness due to simultaneous cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest. She was then admitted to the emergency intensive care unit for further treatment. During her hospitalization, she was in a coma with stable vital signs and persisting symptoms of HFS. Thus, a multidisciplinary consultation was requested to identify whether it was focal cortical seizures involving the right-side facial muscles. Physical examination revealed brief involuntary clonic or tonic contractions accompanied with the 'Babinski-2 sign'. A combination of relevant data, including her past history, clinical presentation and a negative computed tomography scan of the head, led to a diagnosis of right-sided HFS. As the symptoms of HFS are not life-threatening, the use of anticonvulsants is unnecessary.

CONCLUSIONS

For the layperson, it is crucial to seek a multidisciplinary consultation to obtain a correct diagnosis.

An ultrasonographic and electromyographic evaluation of jumping stump possibly due to a neuroma in a patient with transradial amputation: A case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Jumping stump is an uncommon movement disorder characterized by involuntary movements and severe neuropathic pain in the stump. The pathophysiology and etiology of this phenomenon have not yet been clearly elucidated, and unfortunately, no proven treatment with successful recovery exists. This report aims to describe a severe painful jumping stump, possibly due to neuromas, in a traumatic transradial amputee.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

We performed ultrasound examination of the painful stump depicted neuroma. Electromyographic evaluation of the stump revealed arrhythmic motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) with normal duration and amplitude; other movement disorders, such as myokymia and fasciculations, were excluded. Ultrasound should be preferred to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of stumps in patients with painful stump because MRI may not be helpful due to motion artefacts. The involuntary movements ceased after surgical excision of the neuroma following failure of conservative treatments.

CONCLUSION

This report confirms that neuromas are clearly associated with jumping stump. Ultrasonographic and electromyographic assessments are necessary to reveal the features of this pathology for treatment planning.

Auricular Therapy for Treating Phantom Limb Pain Accompanied by Jumping Residual Limb: A Short Review and Case Study

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common complaint among patients after amputation, while jumping residual limb is a rare post-amputation complication, they rarely happen at the same time and both remain difficult to manage. At present, there is a paucity of literature on this topic, and no treatment has been proven effective for treating both of them. In the present brief report, we described a patient who developed severe PLP accompanied by jumping residual limb after below-the-knee amputation and she was treated by auricular therapy (AT) with satisfactory effect.

Cervical dystonia incidence and diagnostic delay in a multiethnic population

BACKGROUND

Current cervical dystonia (CD) incidence estimates are based on small numbers in relatively ethnically homogenous populations. The frequency and consequences of delayed CD diagnosis is poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVES

To determine CD incidence and characterize CD diagnostic delay within a large, multiethnic integrated health maintenance organization.

METHODS

We identified incident CD cases using electronic medical records and multistage screening of more than 3 million Kaiser Permanente Northern California members from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2007. A final diagnosis was made by movement disorders specialist consensus. Diagnostic delay was measured by questionnaire and health utilization data. Incidence rates were estimated assuming a Poisson distribution of cases and directly standardized to the 2000 U.S. census. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess diagnoses and behaviors preceding CD compared with matched controls, adjusting for age, sex, and membership duration.

RESULTS

CD incidence was 1.18/100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-2.0; women, 1.81; men, 0.52) based on 200 cases over 15.4 million person-years. Incidence increased with age. Half of the CD patients interviewed reported diagnostic delay. Diagnoses more common in CD patients before the index date included essential tremor (odds ratio [OR] 68.1; 95% CI, 28.2-164.5), cervical disc disease (OR 3.83; 95% CI, 2.8-5.2), neck sprain/strain (OR 2.77; 95% CI, 1.99-3.62), anxiety (OR 2.24; 95% CI, 1.63-3.11) and depression (OR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.4-2.68).

CONCLUSIONS

CD incidence is greater in women and increases with age. Diagnostic delay is common and associated with adverse effects. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

A Moving Residual Limb: Botulinum Toxin to the Rescue

Movement disorders post-amputation are a rare complication and can manifest as the jumping stump phenomenon, a form of peripheral myoclonus. The pathophysiology remains unknown and there is currently no standardized treatment. We describe the case of a 57-year-old male with unremitting stump myoclonus, starting one month after transtibial amputation, in his residual limb without associated phantom or neurological pain. The consequence of the myoclonus was a reduction in prosthetic wearing time. Failure to respond to oral medication led us to attempt the use of botulinum neurotoxin Type A injections in the involved muscles of the residual limb. Injection trials, over a two-year period, resulted in an improvement of movement disorder, an increased prosthetic wearing time and a higher satisfaction level of the patient. Injection of botulinum toxin type A should be considered as an alternative treatment for stump myoclonus to improve prosthetic wearing time and comfort.

Psychogenic (Functional) Movement Disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews a practical approach to psychogenic movement disorders to help neurologists identify and manage this complex group of disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS

Psychogenic movement disorders, also referred to as functional movement disorders, describe a group of disorders that includes tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, parkinsonism, speech and gait disturbances, and other movement disorders that are incongruent with patterns of pathophysiologic (organic) disease. The diagnosis is based on positive clinical features that include variability, inconsistency, suggestibility, distractibility, suppressibility, and other supporting information. While psychogenic movement disorders are often associated with psychological and physical stressors, the underlying pathophysiology is not fully understood. Although insight-oriented behavioral and pharmacologic therapies are helpful, a multidisciplinary approach led by a neurologist, but also including psychiatrists and physical, occupational, and speech therapists, is needed for optimal outcomes.

SUMMARY

The diagnosis of psychogenic movement disorders is based on clinical features identified on neurologic examination, and neurophysiologic and imaging studies can provide supporting information.

Tremor and myoclonus

Tremor and myoclonus are two common hyperkinetic movement disorders. Tremor is characterized by rhythmic oscillatory movements while myoclonic jerks are usually arrhythmic. Tremor can be classified into subtypes including the most common types: essential, enhanced physiological, and parkinsonian tremor. Myoclonus classification is based on its anatomic origin: cortical, subcortical, spinal, and peripheral myoclonus. The clinical presentations are unfortunately not always classic and electrophysiologic investigations can be helpful in making a phenotypic diagnosis. Video-polymyography is the main technique to (sub)classify the involuntary movements. In myoclonus, advanced electrophysiologic testing, such as back-averaging, coherence analysis, somatosensory-evoked potentials, and the C-reflex can be of additional value. Recent developments in tremor point toward a role for intermuscular coherence analysis to differentiate between tremor subtypes. Classification of the movement disorder based on clinical and electrophysiologic features is important, as it enables the search for an etiological diagnosis and guides tailored treatment.

Hand, foot, and spine deformities in parkinsonian disorders

Hand and foot deformities, known as "striatal deformities", and other musculoskeletal abnormalities such as dropped head, bent spine, camptocormia, scoliosis and Pisa syndrome, are poorly understood and often misdiagnosed features of Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian syndromes. These deformities share some similarities with known rheumatologic conditions and can be wrongly diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Dupuytren's contracture, trigger finger, or other rheumatologic or orthopedic conditions. Neurologists, rheumatologists, and other physicians must be familiar with these deformities to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary diagnostic tests, and to recommend appropriate treatment options.

[Rare tremor syndromes]

BACKGROUND

There is a group of uncommon sporadic tremor syndromes, which are only partially taken into account in the current classification of tremor. Their knowledge is of diagnostic and therapeutic relevance and they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of frequent tremor syndromes.

OBJECTIVE

Differential diagnostics and treatment of uncommon tremor syndromes.

METHOD

Literature search (PubMed, Google Scholar).

RESULTS

Holmes tremor, myorhythmia, palatal tremor, limb-shaking transient ischemic attack (TIA), tardive tremor, neuropathic tremor, tremor induced by peripheral trauma and orthostatic tremor syndrome are described.

CONCLUSION

Uncommon sporadic tremor syndromes are mainly symptomatic with various underlying neurological or systemic pathologies. Their recognition accelerates the diagnostic process and has therapeutic relevance.

Evaluation of the Edrophonium Challenge Test for Cervical Dystonia

Objective To examine whether or not an edrophonium challenge test is useful for diagnosing cervical dystonia. Patients We evaluated 10 patients with cervical dystonia and 10 with hemifacial spasms (disease controls). We administered edrophonium and saline in this double-blinded study. Before and after the injection, we recorded the participants' clinical signs using a video camera to assess the objective symptoms every two minutes. Ten minutes after the saline and edrophonium injections, participants evaluated their subjective clinical signs using a visual analog scale. The objective signs on the video recordings were scored by specialists who were blinded to the treatment. The mean visual analog scale scores were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for paired continuous variables. Results The clinical signs of participants with cervical dystonia were amplified by edrophonium. In contrast, the clinical signs in participants with hemifacial spasms were not affected by the edrophonium challenge test. Conclusion The edrophonium challenge test may be useful for diagnosing cervical dystonia.

Research Priorities in Limb and Task-Specific Dystonias

Dystonia, which causes intermittent or sustained abnormal postures and movements, can present in a focal or a generalized manner. In the limbs, focal dystonia can occur in either the upper or lower limbs and may be task-specific causing abnormal motor performance for only a specific task, such as in writer’s cramp, runner’s dystonia, or musician’s dystonia. Focal limb dystonia can be non-task-specific and may, in some circumstances, be associated with parkinsonian disorders. The true prevalence of focal limb dystonia is not known and is likely currently underestimated, leaving a knowledge gap and an opportunity for future research. The pathophysiology of focal limb dystonia shares some commonalities with other dystonias with a loss of inhibition in the central nervous system and a loss of the normal regulation of plasticity, called homeostatic plasticity. Functional imaging studies revealed abnormalities in several anatomical networks that involve the cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. Further studies should focus on distinguishing cause from effect in both physiology and imaging studies to permit focus on most relevant biological correlates of dystonia. There is no specific therapy for the treatment of limb dystonia given the variability in presentation, but off-label botulinum toxin therapy is often applied to focal limb and task-specific dystonia. Various rehabilitation techniques have been applied and rehabilitation interventions may improve outcomes, but small sample size and lack of direct comparisons between methods to evaluate comparative efficacy limit conclusions. Finally, non-invasive and invasive therapeutic modalities have been explored in small studies with design limitations that do not yet clearly provide direction for larger clinical trials that could support new clinical therapies. Given these gaps in our clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic knowledge, we have identified priorities for future research including: the development of diagnostic criteria for limb dystonia, more precise phenotypic characterization and innovative clinical trial design that considers clinical heterogeneity, and limited available number of participants.

Multiple Neuromas Cause Painful "Jumping Stump" in a Transfemoral Amputee: A Case Report

Painful "jumping stump" is an uncommon but very disturbing complication postamputation. This condition is one of the movement disorder entities resulting from peripheral nerve pathology, often known as "peripherally induced movement disorders." Previously case reports have been written about painful and nonpainful incidence of "jumping stump"; however, only the earliest "jumping stump" article in 1852 suspected that neuromas might influence the involuntary movement. In this study, we describe a 38-year-old man with bilateral transfemoral amputee who suffered from painful "jumping stump" with multiple neuromas confirmed by imaging. He was treated successfully by ultrasound-guided phenol injection into the sciatic neuroma stalks. The pathophysiology of jumping stump and its possible association with neuroma are briefly discussed.

Edrophonium Challenge Test for Blepharospasm

Background: Blepharospasm is typically diagnosed by excluding any secondary diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders, as specific tests for blepharospasm are currently unavailable. Since anticholinergic agents are used to improve the symptoms of dystonia, we hypothesized that edrophonium chloride, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, may make the symptoms of dystonia more apparent. Therefore, we examined whether an edrophonium challenge test would be useful for diagnosing blepharospasm.

Methods: We studied 10 patients with blepharospasm and 10 with hemifacial spasms (as disease controls). We administered edrophonium and saline in this double-blind study. Before and after the injection, we recorded the clinical signs using a video camera to assess the objective symptoms every 2 min. Ten minutes after the isotonic sodium chloride and edrophonium injections, the patients evaluated their subjective signs using a visual analog scale (VAS). The objective signs on the video recordings were scored by specialists who were blind to the treatment.

Results: The subjective and objective signs of the patients with blepharospasm were amplified by edrophonium. In contrast, the signs in patients with hemifacial spasms were not changed by the edrophonium challenge test.

Conclusions: The edrophonium challenge test may be used to diagnose blepharospasm. The study was registered with a ICMJE recognized registry, the UMIN-CTR, with the number UMIN000022557.

Posttraumatic functional movement disorders

Traumatic injury to the nervous system may account for a range of neurologic symptoms. Trauma location and severity are important determinants of the resulting symptoms. In severe head injury with structural brain abnormalities, the occurrence of trauma-induced movement disorders, most commonly hyperkinesias such as tremor and dystonia, is well recognized and its diagnosis straightforward. However, the association of minor traumatic events, which do not lead to significant persistent structural brain damage, with the onset of movement disorders is more contentious. The lack of clear clinical-neuroanatomic (or symptom lesion) correlations in these cases, the variable timing between traumatic event and symptom onset, but also the presence of unusual clinical features in a number of such patients, which overlap with signs encountered in patients with functional neurologic disorders, contribute to this controversy. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the movement disorders, most notably dystonia, that have been associated with peripheral trauma and focus on their unusual characteristics, as well as their overlap with functional neurologic disorders. We will then provide details on pathophysiologic views that relate minor peripheral injuries to the development of movement disorders and compare them to knowledge from primary organic and functional movement disorders. Finally, we will comment on the appropriate management of these disorders.

Prevalence of Bruxism in Hemifacial-Spasm Patients

PURPOSE

A previous study reported an increased prevalence of bruxism (25%) in patients with cranio-cervical dystonia (CCD) compared to normal controls (13%). CCD can affect the muscles of the head and neck. Besides the CCD affecting these muscles, hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a form of peripheral myoclonus due to a neurovascular conflict affecting the muscles of the face. The fact that they affect the same muscle regions could lead to other links in clinical manifestations such as bruxism, which is more common in patients with CCD than in the normal population. The aim was to study the prevalence of bruxism in patients with HFS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with HFS were enrolled in the department of clinical neurophysiology (Bordeaux University Hospital) over a 6-month period. They were paired regarding age, the absence of neurological pathology or neuroleptics intake. To be included in the study, patients needed to have had unilateral involuntary facial muscle contractions affecting one hemiface. A hetero-questionnaire and a clinicial study were performed. The diagnostic criteria of bruxism included parafunction items such as grinding and clenching and at least one of the following clinical signs: abnormal tooth wear, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, TMJ clicking, muscle hypertonia (masseter or temporal muscles). Additional epidemiological data were collected including age, sex, disease duration, stress, and sleep disorders. Stress symptoms inventory included symptoms like depression, strong heartbeat, dry mouth, anger, inability to concentrate, weakness, fatigability, insomnia, headache, and excessive sweating. The sleep disorder diagnosis included at least two of the symptoms described in the ICSD-3. All these criteria were recorded as either present (scored "1") or absent (scored "0").

RESULTS

The prevalence of bruxism in the two groups (normal and HFS) was not significantly different (p = 0.37). The rate was not significantly different between sleep and awake bruxism (p = 0.15) in both groups. Stress influenced the occurrence of bruxism in these two groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicated that clenching behaviors were higher in the HFS group, and that factors such as stress affected this group. The prevalence of bruxism was not higher in this population than in the normal control.

Altered spontaneous brain activity in patients with hemifacial spasm: a resting-state functional MRI study

Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to detect the alterations of spontaneous neuronal activity in various neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, but rarely in hemifacial spasm (HFS), a nervous system disorder. We used resting-state fMRI with regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis to investigate changes in spontaneous brain activity of patients with HFS and to determine the relationship of these functional changes with clinical features. Thirty patients with HFS and 33 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Compared with controls, HFS patients had significantly decreased ReHo values in left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), left medial cingulate cortex (MCC), left lingual gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and right precuneus; and increased ReHo values in left precentral gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), right brainstem, and right cerebellum. Furthermore, the mean ReHo value in brainstem showed a positive correlation with the spasm severity (r = 0.404, p = 0.027), and the mean ReHo value in MFG was inversely related with spasm severity in HFS group (r = -0.398, p = 0.028). This study reveals that HFS is associated with abnormal spontaneous brain activity in brain regions most involved in motor control and blinking movement. The disturbances of spontaneous brain activity reflected by ReHo measurements may provide insights into the neurological pathophysiology of HFS.

Movement disorders secondary to craniocerebral trauma

Over the past few decades it has been recognized that traumatic brain injury may result in various movement disorders. In survivors of severe head injury, post-traumatic movement disorders were reported in about 20%, and they persisted in about 10% of patients. The most frequent persisting movement disorder in this population is kinetic cerebellar outflow tremor in about 9%, followed by dystonia in about 4%. While tremor is associated most frequently with cerebellar or mesencephalic lesions, patients with dystonia frequently have basal ganglia or thalamic lesions. Moderate or mild traumatic brain injury only rarely causes persistent post-traumatic movement disorders. It appears that the frequency of post-traumatic movement disorders overall has been declining which most likely is secondary to improved treatment of brain injury. In patients with disabling post-traumatic movement disorders which are refractory to medical treatment, stereotactic neurosurgery can provide long-lasting benefit. While in the past the primary option for severe kinetic tremor was thalamotomy and for dystonia thalamotomy or pallidotomy, today deep brain stimulation has become the preferred treatment. Parkinsonism is a rare consequence of single head injury, but repeated head injury such as seen in boxing can result in chronic encephalopathy with parkinsonian features. While there is still controversy whether or not head injury is a risk factor for the development of Parkinson's disease, recent studies indicate that genetic susceptibility might be relevant.

A Patient With Focal Dystonia That Occurred Secondary to a Peripheral Neurogenic Tumor: A Case Report

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Patients with dystonia may experience uncontrollable twisting, repetitive movements, or abnormal posture. A 55-year-old man presented with an involuntary left forearm supination, which he had experienced for five years. There was no history of antecedent trauma to the wrist or elbow. Although conventional therapeutic modalities had been performed, the symptoms persisted. When he visited our hospital, electromyography was performed. Reduced conduction velocity was evident at the elbow-axilla segment of the left median nerve. We suspected that there was a problem on the median nerve between the elbow and the axilla. For this reason, we performed an ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging study. A spindle-shaped soft tissue mass was observed at the left median nerve that suggested the possibility of neurofibroma. Dystonia caused by traumatic or compressive peripheral nerve injury has often been reported, but focal dystonia due to a neurogenic tumor is extremely rare. Here, we report our case with a review of the literature.

Hemifacial spasm and neurovascular compression

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by involuntary unilateral contractions of the muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve, usually starting around the eyes before progressing inferiorly to the cheek, mouth, and neck. Its prevalence is 9.8 per 100,000 persons with an average age of onset of 44 years. The accepted pathophysiology of HFS suggests that it is a disease process of the nerve root entry zone of the facial nerve. HFS can be divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary HFS is triggered by vascular compression whereas secondary HFS comprises all other causes of facial nerve damage. Clinical examination and imaging modalities such as electromyography (EMG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful to differentiate HFS from other facial movement disorders and for intraoperative planning. The standard medical management for HFS is botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections, which provides low-risk but limited symptomatic relief. The only curative treatment for HFS is microvascular decompression (MVD), a surgical intervention that provides lasting symptomatic relief by reducing compression of the facial nerve root. With a low rate of complications such as hearing loss, MVD remains the treatment of choice for HFS patients as intraoperative technique and monitoring continue to improve.

Post-traumatic shoulder movement disorders: A challenging differential diagnosis between organic and functional

Peripheral trauma may be a trigger for the development of various movement disorders though the pathophysiology remains controversial and some of these patients have a functional (psychogenic) disorder. We report 3 cases of shoulder movement disorders following trauma to the shoulder region. Physiology was done in all the patients to extend the physical examination. Two patients had history of recurrent shoulder dislocation and were diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. One patient had shoulder injury following repeated falls while performing as a cheerleader. In two patients there were some clinical features suggesting a functional etiology, but physiological studies in all three failed to produce objective evidence of a functional nature. Shoulder movement following trauma is uncommon. Diagnosis in such cases is challenging considering the complex pathophysiology. The movements can be associated with prolonged pain and handicap, and once established they appear resistant to treatment.

Genetics of dystonia: what's known? What's new? What's next?

Although all forms of dystonia share the core clinical features of involuntary dystonic dyskinesia, there is not only marked phenotypic but also etiologic heterogeneity. Isolated dystonia can be caused by mutations in TOR1A (DYT1), TUBB4 (DYT4), THAP1 (DYT6), CIZ1 (DYT23), ANO3 (DYT24), and GNAL (DYT25). Combined dystonias (with parkinsonism or myoclonus) are further subdivided into persistent (TAF1 [DYT3], GCHI [DYT5], SGCE [DYT11], ATP1A3 [DYT12]), PRKRA (DYT16), and paroxysmal (MR-1 [DYT8], PRRT2 [DYT10], SLC2A1 [DYT18]. With the advent of next-generation sequencing, an unprecedented number of new dystonia genes have recently been described, including 4 in the past 12 months. Despite the need for independent confirmation, these recent findings raise 2 important questions regarding (1) the role of genetics in dystonia overall and (2) the role of different molecular mechanisms in dystonia pathogenesis. The genetic contribution to dystonia represents a continuum ranging from genetic susceptibility factors of small effect to causative genes with markedly reduced penetrance to those with full penetrance. Equally diverse and complex are the pathways and neuronal function(s) putatively involved in dystonia pathogenesis including dopamine signaling, intracellular transport, cytoskeletal dynamics, transcriptional regulation, cell-cycle control, ion channel function, energy metabolism, signal transduction, and detoxification mechanisms. In the next decade of dystonia research, we expect to see the discovery of additional dystonia genes and susceptibility factors. In this context, it will be of great interest to explore whether the diverse cellular functions of the known dystonia proteins may be linked to shared pathways and thus complete the complex puzzle of dystonia pathogenesis. © 2013 Movement Disorder Society.

Misdiagnosis of hemifacial spasm is a frequent event in the primary care setting

Primary hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by irregular and involuntary contraction of the muscles innervated by the ipsilateral facial nerve. Treatment controls symptoms and improves quality of life (QoL). Objective : Evaluate the initial diagnosis and treatment of HFS prior to referral to a tertiary center. Method : We interviewed through a standard questionnaire 66 patients currently followed in our center. Results : Mean age: 64.19±11.6 years, mean age of symptoms onset: 51.9±12.5 years, male/female ratio of 1:3. None of the patients had a correct diagnosis in their primary care evaluation. Medication was prescribed to 56.8%. Mean time from symptom onset to botulinum toxin treatment: 4.34 ±7.1 years, with a 95% satisfaction. Thirty percent presented social embarrassment due to HFS. Conclusion : Despite its relatively straightforward diagnosis, all patients had an incorrect diagnosis and treatment on their first evaluation. HFS brings social impairment and the delay in adequate treatment negatively impacts QoL.

Sensory aspects of movement disorders

Movement disorders, which include disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, Tourette's syndrome, restless legs syndrome, and akathisia, have traditionally been considered to be disorders of impaired motor control resulting predominantly from dysfunction of the basal ganglia. This notion has been revised largely because of increasing recognition of associated behavioural, psychiatric, autonomic, and other non-motor symptoms. The sensory aspects of movement disorders include intrinsic sensory abnormalities and the effects of external sensory input on the underlying motor abnormality. The basal ganglia, cerebellum, thalamus, and their connections, coupled with altered sensory input, seem to play a key part in abnormal sensorimotor integration. However, more investigation into the phenomenology and physiological basis of sensory abnormalities, and about the role of the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and related structures in somatosensory processing, and its effect on motor control, is needed.

Clinical factors associated with abnormal postures in Parkinson's disease

Background

Abnormal posture (AP) is often seen in Parkinson's disease (PD), and marked forms known as dropped head syndrome and camptocormia encumber daily living activities. Unlike other motor disabilities such as bradykinesia or muscular rigidity, AP is not always improved but rather deteriorated by PD medication.

Purpose

To clarify factors associated with neck and thoracolumbar AP.

Methods

Neck flexion (NF) and thoracolumbar (TL) angles were measured in 216 consecutive PD patients and 175 elderly healthy controls. The differences in NF and TL angles between PD patients and controls were designated as ΔNFA and ΔTLA, respectively. The association of ΔNFA or ΔTLA and predictable factors such as age, sex, duration of PD, Hoehn Yahr (H–Y) stage, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3 (UPDRS-3), daily dose of dopamine agonists, and comorbid orthopedic spinal lesions was investigated in PD patients. Patients were divided into quartiles according to ΔNFA or ΔTLA. The association between predictable factors and ΔNFA or ΔTLA was estimated as odds ratio (OR), comparing with the lowest quartile as the reference by multivariate regression analysis.

Results

Compared with controls, distributions of all three posture angles were significantly shifted rightward in PD patients. Although there were no difference in UPDRS-3 scores in the quartiles of ΔNFA, the highest quartile was associated with H–Y stage ≥3 [OR 2.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33–6.70, p = 0.008] after adjustment for age, sex and comorbid orthopedic spinal lesions. The highest quartile of ΔTLA was associated with comorbid orthopedic spinal lesions [OR 5.83 (1.42–23.8), p = 0.014], and UPDRS-3 score [OR 3.04 (1.80–5.15)/10 points, p<0.0001].

Conclusion

Thoraco-lumbar AP was associated with UPDRS-3 scores and orthopedic spinal lesions, and in contrast, neck AP was not associated with these factors, suggesting that they had different pathomechanisms.

Complementary therapies in hemifacial spasm and comparison with other movement disorders

OBJECTIVES

We determined the prevalence, range and factors influencing the use of complementary therapy among hemifacial spasm patients and compared the patterns of use of complementary therapies across different movement disorders in a systematic pooled analysis of published literature.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was administered to 96 hemifacial spasm patients evaluating frequency of complementary therapy use, and factors influencing patients' decision to seek these therapies. We also performed a PubMed search of epidemiology studies on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders.

RESULTS

Fifty-one per cent of patients had tried complementary therapies, of which 47% reported some perceived benefit and 4.1% informed their doctor. Acupuncture (71.4%) and facial massage (17.6%) were most commonly used. Complementary therapy use was associated with greater HFS severity. The mean cost of treatment was about $78 per month. We identified eight articles on use of complementary therapies in movement disorders; Parkinson's disease (5), Tourette syndrome (2) and dystonia (1). Twenty-five to 88% of patient had tried complementary therapies, of which 32-70% reported some benefit. Trials of acupuncture (2-63%) and massage (7-38%) were reported across the spectrum of movement disorders studied. Mean cost of complementary therapies varied from 43 to 102 USD per month.

CONCLUSION

Complementary therapies are used by over 50% of HFS patients, and the use is correlated with severity of disease. Despite differences in race, culture and population demographics, acupuncture and massage are used by patients across the spectrum of movement disorders.

Neuroinflammation, neuroautoimmunity, and the co-morbidities of complex regional pain syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is associated with non-dermatomal patterns of pain, unusual movement disorders, and somatovisceral dysfunctions. These symptoms are viewed by some neurologists and psychiatrists as being psychogenic in origin. Recent evidence, however, suggests that an autoimmune attack on self-antigens found in the peripheral and central nervous system may underlie a number of CRPS symptoms. From both animal and human studies, evidence is accumulating that neuroinflammation can spread, either anterograde or retrograde, via axonal projections in the CNS, thereby establishing neuroinflammatory tracks and secondary neuroinflammatory foci within the neuraxis. These findings suggest that neuroinflammatory lesions, as well as their associated functional consequences, should be evaluated during the differential diagnosis of non-dermatomal pain presentations, atypical movement disorders, as well as other "medically unexplained symptoms", which are often attributed to psychogenic illness.

Headache in hemifacial spasm patients

OBJECTIVES

To assess prevalence of headaches in patients with hemifacial spasm. To determine whether hemifacial spasm provokes headaches and identifies predictive factors. To evaluate whether botulinum toxin given for hemifacial spasm improves headaches.

METHODS

Seventy patients with hemifacial spasm were evaluated for headaches. The relationship of headaches with hemifacial spasm, impact on quality of life (HIT-6), and improvement in headaches from botulinum toxin was recorded. Data on duration, severity, and impact on quality of life (HFS-7) of hemifacial spasm were collected.

RESULTS

Hemifacial spasm-related headache was significantly associated with increased hemifacial spasm severity (P < 0.001) and HIT-6 (P = 0.024). Greater hemifacial spasm severity was predictive of hemifacial spasm-related headache (P = 0.006, OR 19.1, 95% CI 2.35-155.64). Botulinum toxin (BTX) for hemifacial spasm improved hemifacial spasm-related headaches (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Hemifacial spasm can complicate headaches, particularly in patients with greater hemifacial spasm severity. Individually tailored regimens of botulinum toxin may be indicated in these patients.

Yips and other movement disorders in golfers

Golf is a sport that requires perfect motor coordination and a balance between mobility and stability. Golfer's "yips," an intermittent motor disturbance manifested as transient tremor, jerk, or spasm that primarily occurs when the player is trying to chip or make a putt, is a movement disorder frequently encountered in both amateur and professional golfers. In addition, other movement disorders, such as tremors and dystonia, also can interfere with playing golf. Although the pathophysiology of the yips remains poorly understood, recent studies suggest that it may be a form of a task-specific, focal dystonia involving the hand and arm. Because task-specific dystonias and tremors are best treated by botulinum toxin injections, this also may be an effective therapy for the yips. The aim of this article is to systematically review the literature and our own experience with the yips and other movement disorders in golfers.

Painful legs and moving toes

The syndrome of painful legs-moving toes (PLMT) is an adult-onset, rare disorder characterized by pain, typically of a neuropathic quality, in the feet or legs, associated with writhing movements of one or more toes. It is the pain which usually brings the patient to medical attention. The syndrome may be unilateral or bilateral. Identical toe movements may occur without pain, referred to as: "painless legs-moving toes," and a similar condition affects the upper limbs: "painful arms-moving fingers." The pathophysiology of PLMT and its variants is not known but most reports suggest an association with a peripheral lesion, usually at the level of the root or nerve, though in many cases no cause is found. It has been suggested that a peripheral lesion causes aberrant input leading to "central reorganization," probably at the level of the spinal cord, and that the latter is responsible for the pain and movement. Treatment is often unsatisfactory and many drugs commonly used for neuropathic pain have been reported anecdotally to help (e.g., gabapentin). Other anecdotal therapies include spinal blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and local injection of botulinum toxin.

Fixed dystonia in complex regional pain syndrome: a descriptive and computational modeling approach

Background

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) may occur after trauma, usually to one limb, and is characterized by pain and disturbed blood flow, temperature regulation and motor control. Approximately 25% of cases develop fixed dystonia. Involvement of dysfunctional GABAergic interneurons has been suggested, however the mechanisms that underpin fixed dystonia are still unknown. We hypothesized that dystonia could be the result of aberrant proprioceptive reflex strengths of position, velocity or force feedback.

Methods

We systematically characterized the pattern of dystonia in 85 CRPS-patients with dystonia according to the posture held at each joint of the affected limb. We compared the patterns with a neuromuscular computer model simulating aberrations of proprioceptive reflexes. The computer model consists of an antagonistic muscle pair with explicit contributions of the musculotendinous system and reflex pathways originating from muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, with time delays reflective of neural latencies. Three scenarios were simulated with the model: (i) increased reflex sensitivity (increased sensitivity of the agonistic and antagonistic reflex loops); (ii) imbalanced reflex sensitivity (increased sensitivity of the agonistic reflex loop); (iii) imbalanced reflex offset (an offset to the reflex output of the agonistic proprioceptors).

Results

For the arm, fixed postures were present in 123 arms of 77 patients. The dominant pattern involved flexion of the fingers (116/123), the wrists (41/123) and elbows (38/123). For the leg, fixed postures were present in 114 legs of 77 patients. The dominant pattern was plantar flexion of the toes (55/114 legs), plantar flexion and inversion of the ankle (73/114) and flexion of the knee (55/114).

Only the computer simulations of imbalanced reflex sensitivity to muscle force from Golgi tendon organs caused patterns that closely resembled the observed patient characteristics. In parallel experiments using robot manipulators we have shown that patients with dystonia were less able to adapt their force feedback strength.

Conclusions

Findings derived from a neuromuscular model suggest that aberrant force feedback regulation from Golgi tendon organs involving an inhibitory interneuron may underpin the typical fixed flexion postures in CRPS patients with dystonia.

The many faces of hemifacial spasm: differential diagnosis of unilateral facial spasms

Hemifacial spasm is defined as unilateral, involuntary, irregular clonic or tonic movement of muscles innervated by the seventh cranial nerve. Most frequently attributed to vascular loop compression at the root exit zone of the facial nerve, there are many other etiologies of unilateral facial movements that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemifacial spasm. The primary purpose of this review is to draw attention to the marked heterogeneity of unilateral facial spasms and to focus on clinical characteristics of mimickers of hemifacial spasm and on atypical presentations of nonvascular cases. In addition to a comprehensive review of the literature on hemifacial spasm, medical records and videos of consecutive patients referred to the Movement Disorders Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine for hemifacial spasm between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed, and videos of illustrative cases were edited. Among 215 patients referred for evaluation of hemifacial spasm, 133 (62%) were classified as primary or idiopathic hemifacial spasm (presumably caused by vascular compression of the ipsilateral facial nerve), and 4 (2%) had hereditary hemifacial spasm. Secondary causes were found in 40 patients (19%) and included Bell's palsy (n=23, 11%), facial nerve injury (n=13, 6%), demyelination (n=2), and brain vascular insults (n=2). There were an additional 38 patients (18%) with hemifacial spasm mimickers classified as psychogenic, tics, dystonia, myoclonus, and hemimasticatory spasm. We concluded that although most cases of hemifacial spasm are idiopathic and probably caused by vascular compression of the facial nerve, other etiologies should be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly if there are atypical features.

Focal hand dystonia in a patient with ulnar nerve neuropathy at the elbow

We describe a patient who presented with dystonia of her small finger secondary to entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Pre operative electrophysiological studies suggested that the locus of entrapment was located proximal to the medial epicondyle. This was confirmed intraoperatively by the presence of a thickened and prominent arcade of Struthers. Surgical decompression resulted in a rapid and dramatic improvement of the dystonic pattern as well as an improvement in nerve conduction. A review of literature has not revealed any other reports of such a clear cut association between ulnar nerve entrapment and non task-specific focal hand dystonia.