[Abnormal movements of peripheral origin: seven case reports]

Movement disorders induced by central nervous system trauma are well recognized. The relation between peripheral injury and the subsequent development of movement disorders has been documented in many reports, specially dystonia and tremor. Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these movement disorders are not well understood.

We report a group of seven patients with movement disorders induced by peripheral trauma. The inclusion criteria used for the patients were: the trauma was well documented for the patient and the medical history, and the onset of the movement disorder was anatomically and temporally related to the injury. We describe seven patients presenting respectively oromandibular dystonia, radicular myoclonus, tremor, segmental dystonia, lower limbs dystonia, segmental myoclonus and tremor, of the body parts previously exposed to traumatic injuries.

Individual predisposition and central changes with pathological reorganization in response to peripheral injury have been considered in the pathogenesis of peripherally induced movements disorders.