Athetosis II: The syndrome of mild athetoid cerebral palsy

We describe 8 patients who presented with continuous, irregular movements occurring independently in individual fingers and, in some cases, toes, in the setting of mild dystoina present since early childhood and not associated with major disability. The finger movements varied from low-amplitude quivering or wriggling to larger amplitude movements in the plane of abduction-adduction as well as flexion-extension; they were asymmetrical but not unilateral. Quivering or working of the facial muscles was seen in 5 patients. Most patients reported worsening of the movements over the years, but there was no other evidence of a progressive neurological disease. We classify the movement disorder as athetosis as described by Hammond and Shaw and the syndrome as mild athetoid cerebral palsy. (C) 2002 Movement Disorder Society.