Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ballism
Introduction
Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox
Overview
Overview
Hemiballismus is a neurological sign, a movement disorder, characterised by unilateral wild, large amplitude flinging movements of the arm and leg, normally causing falls and preventing postural maintenance.
Causes
Causes
It is caused by a lesion or infarction in the contralateral subthalamic nucleus or its connections, usually in patients with a history of hypertension or diabetes, or following TB meningitis. The subthalamic nucleus normally regulates the globus pallidus by exciting the GPi, which in turn normally inhibits the ventral anterior nucleus, ventral lateral nucleus and lateral dorsal nucleus of the thalamus (see thalamus). The reduced discharge in both causes disinhibition of the thalamus and consequent involuntary stimulation of the motor cortex. Altered dopaminergic feedback mechanisms may also be involved.[1]
Treatment
Treatment
Chemical treatment is via dopamine blockade, or via surgical lesions to the globus pallidus, lenticular fasciculus or VL nucleus of thalamus. The prognosis is rather favourable both vitally and functionally[1]
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Klawans H, Moses H, Nausieda P, Bergen D, Weiner W (1976). “Treatment and prognosis of hemiballismus”. N. Engl. J. Med. 295 (24): 1348–50. PMID 980081.
External links
External links
A demonstration of Hemiballismus is seen in you tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsBFxhdGl0Q