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"Naturalization" of the alien hand: case report
J J Nicholas1, M H Wichner, P B Gorelick
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|January 24, 1998
Summary
Alien hand syndrome, a rare involuntary motor disorder, can affect stroke patients. A simple oven mitt effectively controlled a patient's disruptive nocturnal hand movements.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Alien hand syndrome (AHS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, autonomous movements of one hand.
- It most commonly occurs in patients following a stroke, particularly affecting the corpus callosum or frontal lobe.
- Understanding AHS is crucial for diagnosing and managing complex motor control deficits.
Observation:
- A case study details a 67-year-old male patient experiencing left hemiparesis post-stroke.
- The patient exhibited significant nocturnal alien hand syndrome, with his affected hand exhibiting crawling and grasping movements.
- These involuntary movements frequently disturbed his sleep, leading to self-injury, such as grasping his collar.
Findings:
- The patient's alien hand syndrome symptoms, particularly the nocturnal episodes, were effectively managed by placing his hand in a common oven mitt.
- This simple intervention provided sensory feedback and physical restraint, mitigating the involuntary motor activity.
- The case highlights a low-tech, practical approach to managing a distressing neurological symptom.
Implications:
- This case suggests that simple, non-invasive interventions may be beneficial for managing alien hand syndrome.
- Further research into sensory-based and physical containment strategies for AHS is warranted.
- Effective management of AHS can significantly improve patient quality of life and sleep quality.