Ipsilateral tilt and contralateral sensory change of neck in cortical infarction

Abstract

Background Numerous neck muscles are involved in neck movements, and so isolated neck weakness is extremely uncommon in cerebral infarction. Case Report We report herein the case of a 65-year-old woman with hypertension and acute cortical infarction, presenting with ipsilateral head tilt and contralateral sensory changes in the neck and shoulder area, which has never been described before. Conclusions Transient neck weakness and sensory deficits can occur in acute cortical infarction. The motor representation of the neck muscles can be at the same level of the cortical sensory representation, near to the level of the trunk representation, which is in contrast to Pen-field's findings. Several possible mechanisms for the ipsilateral tilt are described. © 2011 Korean Neurological Association.