Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Therapy of Movement Disorders pp 255–257Cite as

Treatment of Hemiballismus

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 2132 Accesses

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

Abstract

Hemiballismus/hemichorea is characterized by unilateral, involuntary writhing and flinging movements of acute or subacute onset. It is seen most commonly secondary to stroke or nonketotic hyperosmolar hyperglycemia. The subthalamic nucleus was previously thought to be the responsible anatomical site but recent studies have shown that lesions in other structures in the basal ganglia and cortex can produce a similar clinical picture. The majority of the cases have a good prognosis and most resolve spontaneously. Dopamine depleters (including VMAT2 inhibitors) and dopamine antagonists are the mainstay of the treatment. In severe cases, deep brain stimulation (DBS) or pallidotomy can be considered as a treatment option.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Suggested Reading

  • Chung SJ, Im J-H, Lee MC, Kim JS. Hemichorea after stroke: clinical-radiological correlation. J Neurol. 2004;251:725–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewey RB Jr, Jankovic J. Hemiballism-hemichorea: clinical and pharmacologic findings in 21 patients. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:862–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa H, Mundil N, Samuel M, Jarosz J, Ashkan K. The treatment of persistent vascular hemidystonia-hemiballismus with unilateral GPi deep brain stimulation. Mov Disord. 2009;24:1697–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawley JS, Weiner WJ. Hemiballismus: current concepts and review. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2012;18(2):125–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyland HH, Forman DM. Prognosis in hemiballismus. Neurology. 1957;7:381–91.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klawans HL, Hamilton M, Nausieda PA, Bergen D, Weiner WJ. Treatment and prognosis of hemiballismus. N Engl J Med. 1976;295:1348–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin JP. Hemichorea resulting from a local lesion of the brain: the syndrome of the body of Luys. Brain. 1927;50:637–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parees I, Hernandez-Vara J, Alvarez-Sabin J. Post-stroke hemichorea: observation-based study of 15 cases. Rev Neurol. 2010;51(8):460–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Postuma RB, Lang AE. Hemiballism: revisting a classic disorder. Lancet Neurol. 2003;2:661–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vidakovic A, Dragasevic N, Kostic VS. Hemiballism: report of 25cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1994;57:945–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xie T, Awad I, Kang UJ, Warnke P. DBS reduced hemichorea associated with a developmental venous anomaly and microbleeding in STN. Neurology. 2014;82:636–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaitout Z. CT and MRI findings in the basal ganglia in non-ketotic hyperglycaemia associated hemichorea and hemi-ballismus (HC-HB). Neuroradiology. 2012;54:1119–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine (Neurology), Pediatrics, and Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Oksana Suchowersky MD, FRCPC, FCCMG

  2. Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Aakash Shetty MD, DM, DNB

Authors
  1. Oksana Suchowersky MD, FRCPC, FCCMG
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aakash Shetty MD, DM, DNB
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oksana Suchowersky MD, FRCPC, FCCMG .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Frederick Henry Prince Distinguished, Professor in Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Stephen G. Reich

  2. Vance Lanier Chair of Neurology, Professor, Department of Neurology, Director, Jean and Paul Amos Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Stewart A. Factor

Electronic Supplementary Material

The video Hemiballismus patient history demonstrates random continuous irregular movements involving the proximal and distal extremities, face, and trunk on the right side. These movements are characteristic of chorea with occasional larger amplitude movements signifying hemiballismus (MP4 45682 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Suchowersky, O., Shetty, A. (2019). Treatment of Hemiballismus. In: Reich, S., Factor, S. (eds) Therapy of Movement Disorders. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97897-0_58

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97897-0_58

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97896-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97897-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation