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[Post-traumatic spasmodic torticollis]
M S Kawasaki1, O J Hernández-Fustes, E J Scheer Neto
1Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Universitário Cajuru, Pontifícia Universidade Católica (PUC), Paraná, Brasil.
Arquivos De Neuro-Psiquiatria
|August 12, 1998
Summary
Head trauma can rarely cause dystonia, including spasmodic torticollis. The time between injury and symptom onset varies, with potential links to aberrant neuronal circuits.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurotrauma
Background:
- Dystonia is a rare neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions.
- Head trauma is an infrequent but recognized cause of secondary dystonia.
Observation:
- This study reviews 32 cases of post-traumatic dystonia, including one of spasmodic torticollis.
- Onset ranged from 2 hours to 9 years post-injury, with both mild and severe head injuries implicated.
- Imaging revealed varied lesions, including basal ganglia and thalamic abnormalities.
Findings:
- Common initial CT findings included hygroma and brain edema, progressing to cerebral atrophy.
- MRI scans indicated lesions in contralateral basal ganglia or thalamus.
- Pathophysiology remains unclear, but lenticulothalamic neuronal circuit dysfunction is suspected.
Implications:
- Aberrant central neurons may contribute to the delayed onset of dystonia after head injury.
- Understanding these mechanisms could inform future treatment strategies for post-traumatic movement disorders.