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Updated: Jul 4, 2026

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Published on: January 15, 2017
[Movement disorders in the emergency department]
M E Erro1, I Gastón, M C Navarro
1Servicio de Neurología, Hospital de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. elena.erro.aguirre@cfnavarra.es
Acute movement disorders are rare neurological emergencies requiring prompt diagnosis to prevent severe outcomes. Recognizing diverse presentations like parkinsonism, dystonia, or chorea is key to identifying causes, including drugs and stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
Context:
- Acute movement disorders are uncommon but critical neurological emergencies.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to minimize morbidity and mortality.
- Diverse clinical presentations necessitate a broad differential diagnosis.
Purpose:
- To review the etiologies and clinical presentations of acute and sub-acute movement disorders.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing these emergencies for timely intervention.
- To discuss specific conditions such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome, parkinsonism-hyperpirexia syndrome, and stroke-related movement disorders.
Summary:
- Movement disorders presenting acutely or sub-acutely, though infrequent, pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
- Etiologies range widely, with pharmacologic agents (causing neuroleptic malignant syndrome, serotoninergic syndrome) being most common.
- Other critical causes include Parkinson's disease complications (parkinsonism-hyperpirexia syndrome, psychosis, deep brain stimulator issues), acute dystonia, chorea, and stroke.
Impact:
- Improved recognition and management of acute movement disorders can reduce patient morbidity and mortality.
- This review aids clinicians in diagnosing and treating diverse acute movement disorder presentations.
- Understanding the link between specific movement patterns and underlying causes facilitates targeted therapeutic strategies.
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