Isolated Wrist Drop Presenting as Acute Stroke: Rare Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

ABSTRACTIsolated wrist drop is very unusual clinical presentation due to cerebral stroke. It is highly confused with peripheral neuropathy. However, timely detection of acute stroke as one of the causes of wrist drop is necessary as it changes the line of treatment and prognosis significantly. Here we are presenting a 62 year-old diabetic and hypertensive male patient who came with acute onset weakness of right hand. Initial Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed hyperacute infarct in the splenium of corpus callosum. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was normal. Repeat brain MRI on next day showed acute infarct at hand area of motor strip in posterior frontal region. The patient underwent intravenous thrombolysis and thereafter improved significantly. Isolated hand palsy is a rare presentation of stroke, often mistaken for peripheral lesion.