J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2014 Sep;56(3):254-256. 10.3340/jkns.2014.56.3.254.

Cerebral Infarction Presenting with Unilateral Isolated Foot Drop

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Institute for Medical Science, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea. rollingstone12@hanmail.net

Abstract

Weakness of the dorsiflexor muscles of the ankle or toe, referred to as foot drop, is a relatively common presentation. In most cases, foot drop is caused by a lower motor neuron disease such as peroneal peripheral neuropathy, L4-5 radiculopathic sciatic neuropathy, or polyneuropathy. Although upper motor neuron lesions can present as foot drop, the incidence is very rare. Here, we report an extremely rare case in which foot drop was the only presenting symptom of cerebral infarction.

Keyword

Foot drop; Cerebral infarction; Upper motor neuron

MeSH Terms

Ankle
Cerebral Infarction*
Foot*
Incidence
Motor Neuron Disease
Motor Neurons
Muscles
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Polyneuropathies
Sciatic Neuropathy
Toes

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Brain MRI DWI reveals focal high-signal intensity in the uppermost convexity of the precentral gyrus (A), and low-signal intensity in the same area on ADC map (B).


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