Korean J Spine.  2015 Sep;12(3):210-212. 10.14245/kjs.2015.12.3.210.

Isolated Painless Foot Drop due to Cerebral Infarction Mimicking Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Case Report

• Kim JY
• Kim DK
• Yoon SH

• KMID: 2288354
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2015.12.3.210

Abstract

Although they usually originate from peripheral problems, foot drop is caused by lesions affecting the neural pathway related to dorsiflexor muscles, whether of central or peripheral origin. We present a patient with sudden isolated foot drop caused by a small infarct in the primary motor cortex mimicking a peripheral origin. This report indicates that patients presenting isolated foot drop should be managed carefully and the possibility of both central and peripheral causes should be considered. To our knowledge, this is the first report of sudden isolated foot drop caused by a cortical infarction mimicking lumbar radiculopathy.

Keyword

Foot drop; Cerebral infarction; Lumbar disc herniation; Monoparesis; Corticospinal tract; Radiculopathy

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Infarction*
Foot*
Humans
Infarction
Motor Cortex
Muscles
Neural Pathways
Paresis
Pyramidal Tracts
Radiculopathy*