Transient parietal hand syndrome after cortical resection.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Epilepsy

Background:

• Intractable epilepsy often necessitates surgical intervention, such as parietal topectomy, to control seizures.
• Assessing neurological function during and after surgery is critical for patient outcomes.

Observation:

• A rare post-surgical neurological finding, termed "parietal hand syndrome," was observed in a patient undergoing right parietal topectomy for epilepsy.
• The patient exhibited involuntary, ballistic movements of the contralateral left upper extremity, primarily affecting the shoulder and arm.
• These movements persisted for approximately 24 hours post-operatively and were documented via video recording.

Findings:

• The "parietal hand syndrome" presents as a unique clinical phenomenology characterized by specific upper extremity motor disturbances.
• This syndrome has not been previously reported in the English literature with similar clinical features and immediate post-operative documentation.
• The case highlights a rare neurological sequela potentially linked to parietal lobe manipulation during epilepsy surgery.

Implications:

• This case report introduces a novel clinical entity, "parietal hand syndrome," expanding the understanding of post-surgical neurological deficits.
• The detailed video documentation provides valuable evidence for further research into the pathophysiology of this syndrome.
• Further investigation is warranted to determine the incidence, underlying mechanisms, and long-term implications of parietal hand syndrome in patients undergoing similar neurosurgical procedures.