NYMC Faculty Publications

Rehabilitation Course and Specification of Dysmetria of a Patient With Ataxia, Dysmetria, and Hemiparesis After a Stroke in the Corona Radiata: A Case Presentation

DOI

10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.01.008

Journal Title

PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation

First Page

974

Last Page

978

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

September 2018

Department

Rehabilitation Medicine

Abstract

We present a case of a patient with ataxia, dysmetria, and hemiparesis after a stroke in the corona radiata. The patient had an excellent clinical course with near resolution of symptoms in 2 and a half weeks and returned and back to work full duty and full time a couple of weeks later. We use a video of several neurologic tests to demonstrate and characterize the dysmetria. Interestingly, a key characteristic of the dysmetria appears to be different from that seen in patients with dysmetria arising from a cerebellar, thalamic, or pontine lesion. We propose a possible neurophysiologic mechanism-damage to and redundancy of part of the corticopontine portion of the cerebellar circuit located in the corona radiata-respectively responsible for this condition and recovery. We also discuss how a simple noninvasive study of patients with ataxia and dysmetria secondary to corona radiata, thalamic, pontine, and possibly other brain lesions may be helpful in elucidating the contribution of pontocerebellar fibers and other structures to motor control. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: blacksquare, square, filledblacksquare, square, filledblacksquare, square, filled.

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