athetosis

Etiology

• commonly associated with spasticity
  • cerebral palsy
• early injury to the basal ganglia
  • hypoxia
  • kernicterus

* pseudoathetosis is caused by proprioception defects

Clinical manifestations

• abnormal movements commonly involving the face & distal extremities, slower & more twisting & writhing than chorea & with larger amplitude
  • slow convoluted writhing movements of the fingers & toes

* pseudoathetosis is similar but elicited by eye closure

More general terms

• movement disorder
• involuntary movement

More specific terms

• choreoathetosis

Additional terms

• chorea
• dystonia