Lacunar thalamic stroke proclivity for falls.
Small ischaemic lesions strategically placed could give rise to specific clinical manifestations depending on the location and size of the lesion. We present the case of five patients with imbalance and falls with no other neurological findings. The computed tomographic scan showed a lacunar infarct in the right or left thalamus. The tendency to fall may complicate rehabilitation. The possible physiological mechanisms are discussed.
Department of Medicine (Aged Care and Rehabilitation Services), Blacktown-Mt Druitt Health, Blacktown, NSW, Australia. nage@mail2me.com.au
Nages
N
Nagaratnam
Harry
H
Leung
Pascal
P
Bou-Haider
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013786:Thalamic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed