A Case of Mirror Movements after Childhood Hemiparesis

ABSTRACT

Mirror movements are normal in childhood, and may persist to a later age following early brain lesions. The present report describes a 25 year old male patient who had been a severe febrile disease at the age of 2 years, after then persistent mild spastic right hemiparesis had been developed. By the age of 7 years he recalled that his two hand involutarily tended to move simultaneuosly, and whilst his problems did not progress. They became more obtrusive and the bimanual movements seriously intefered with his activity, so he became aware that many or most of movements performed with one hand. There were obvious mirror movements of both hands and fingers with a greater tendency for mirroring to occut in the right hand with intended movements of the left hand, than vice versa. Passive movements did not elicit mirror movements. Brain CT scan reveal diffuse atrophy in left hemisphere.