Posterior-variant alien hand syndrome: clinical features and response to rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: This case highlights the clinical features and course of recovery of a patient presenting to the rehabilitation service with posterior-variant alien hand syndrome (AHS) following thalamic stroke.

METHODS

Single case report.

RESULTS

Clinical signs and symptoms included mild hemiparesis, dyspraxia, dysmetria, primary sensory loss and hemispatial neglect. Autonomous movements and personification of the affected extremity which were ego-syntonic in nature were characteristic of posterior-variant AHS. The associated neurological impairments resolved early during the course of rehabilitation and the patient made excellent functional gains.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the distinguishing features differentiating posterior-variant AHS from more classical AHS and underscores the excellent prognosis of this variant.