Bilateral footdrop after treatment of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2011

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Footdrop designates weakness of the ankle as well as toes dorsiflexion. Peripheral causes of unilateral footdrop are well established. Bilateral footdrop originating from pathologies in the central nervous system are rare and include a number of unexplored etiologies.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A case of bilateral footdrop is presented. The patient presented with a grade IV subarachnoid hemorrhage with intraventricular extension. He was treated with coil embolization of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. Postoperatively, he was found to have weakness of both ankle and toe dorsiflexion. Findings on magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine were negative for abnormal cord signal, cord infarction, and compressive lesion. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed parasagittal bifrontal and right greater than left convexity foci of acute infarction.

CONCLUSION: Central causes of acute footdrop are rare. However, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis, particularly in the presence of upper motor neuron signs on physical examination.

Volume

68

Issue

2 Suppl Operative

First Page

373

Last Page

376

ISSN

1524-4040

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

21389878

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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