Difference between revisions of "Pronator drift"

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3. Darcy P, Moughty AM. Images in clinical medicine. Pronator drift. N Engl J
 
3. Darcy P, Moughty AM. Images in clinical medicine. Pronator drift. N Engl J
 
Med. 2013 Oct 17;369(16):e20.
 
Med. 2013 Oct 17;369(16):e20.
[[Category:Motor signs]]
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[[Category:Motor Signs]]

Latest revision as of 21:18, 21 November 2016

Figure 1. Pronator drift in a patient after a stroke; the drift was more conspicuous than actual weakness
Pronator drift is a sign of corticospinal tract dysfunction.(1-3) When the arms are held outstretched with the palms up, the affected extremity will slowly drift downward, the elbow flexes and the forearm pronates.(Figure 1) Pronator drift may occur in the absence of demonstrable weakness to formal muscle strength testing. Pronator drift occurs because the muscles selectively innervated by the corticospinal tract, the extensors and supinators, are weakened. This allows the relatively preserved strength in the non-corticospinal tract muscles, the flexors and pronators, to overpower the extensors and supinators. The result is a slow downward drift accompanied by elbow flexion and forearm pronation. Pronator drift is one of the subtle signs of hemiparesis.

References

1. Campbell WW. Clinical signs in neurology : a compendium. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health, 2016. 2. Campbell WW. DeJong's the neurologic examination, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013. 3. Darcy P, Moughty AM. Images in clinical medicine. Pronator drift. N Engl J Med. 2013 Oct 17;369(16):e20.