Ballism

Ballism is similar to the Chorea. These are sharp, irregular, throwing movements of greater amplitude, mostly on the proximal parts of the limbs.

Hemibalism is a ballism that affects only one half of the body. It is the most common manifestation of ballism.

Etiology
Damage to the contralateral nucleus subthalamicus Luysi or putamen. The cause may be a stroke, post-drug, hyper- or hypoglycaemia, expansion processes in the CNS, brain trauma, encephalitis, MS, or neurodegenerative diseases (chorea etc.).

Treatment

 * Neuroleptics.
 * More detailed information can be found on the page Ballism / PGS / diagnostics

Related articles

 * Extrapyramidal syndromes
 * Hypokinetic extrapyramidal syndromes