Delayed-onset dystonia in patients with "static" encephalopathy

Abstract

Eight cases of persistent dystonia appearing one to 14 years after non-progressive cerebral insults are described. Five were due to perinatal anoxia, one to trauma, and two to cerebral infarction. This phenomenon of delayed-onset dystonia has not been described previously, although review of earlier literature reveals several probable examples. Delayed-onset dystonia due to perinatal anoxia is an important diagnostic alternative to dystonia musculorum deformans for dystonia occurring in childhood.