Acute hemiparesis is a common clinical syndrome in chil- discussed. It is important not to be overly swayed by a his-
dren that may present to primary, secondary, or tertiary tory of trauma: we have seen several children who sustained
health care professionals. Challenges in clinical practice falls, presumably as a result of acute weakness, whose
include difficulty in recognizing acute hemi-syndromes in orthopaedic or soft-tissue injuries were managed without
young children or in children with subtle presentations. appreciation of the central neurological signs. Naturally, a
For example, whereas older children with vascular stroke competent neurological examination is key here; facial
syndromes would usually meet the FAST (face, arm, weakness, encephalopathy, or seizures are also all signs that
speech, and time) criteria used by paramedics to recognize should point the clinician to the central nervous system
stroke in adults in the community (where patients with (CNS). Specific points in neurological examination are
face, arm, and speech problems are triaged as likely cases helpful indicators of a central lesion. It is important to note
of stroke), younger children may present with a more sub- that the typical signs of increased tone and exaggerated
tle motor deficits, and diffuse neurological signs such as reflexes on the affected side are late signs in acute hemipa-
encephalopathy. Subtle clinical presentations soft signs resis. The absence of these signs is not sufficient to exclude
are also a feature of acute vascular events in children with a central lesion. In a comatose patient, asymmetry of pos-
sickle-cell disease, and it is important to consider a central ture with external rotation of the leg at hip joint may be
cause in these children rather than attributing limping or the only indication of a hemiplegia. Similarly, head version
writing difficulty to pain. Transient ischaemic attack as a or gaze deviation to one side is a clue to a hemispheric
clinical syndrome is not very useful in younger children lesion. In older, cooperative children, it may be possible to
because of subtle presentations.1 demonstrate the typical pyramidal distribution of weakness
This review considers the clinical approach to a child in the limbs, namely predominant weakness of shoulder
with lateralized weakness in a practical way, considering a abduction, elbow extension, and wrist extension in the
staged approach towards clinical assessment and investiga- upper limb, and hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsi-
tion to reach a diagnosis. It does not consider management flexion in the lower limb. Careful examination to establish
of specific individual disorders as this is comprehensively the level of lesion in facial weakness is valuable. Idiopathic
covered elsewhere. lower motoneuron facial palsy (Bells palsy), particularly if
partial and sparing upper face, can be mistaken for an ipsi-
Is it central or peripheral? lateral upper motoneuron facial palsy as a component of
This may seem an obvious point, but in our experience hemiplegia due to stroke (and vice versa). Facial palsy con-
insufficient effort is sometimes made to distinguish tralateral to the hemiplegia localizes the lesion to pons and
between central and peripheral deficits, especially in the the posterior circulation in vascular events.
emergency room. The difficulty of ascertaining the cause The signs in younger children are often more diffuse;
of limb weakness in a child with sickle-cell disease, at however, asymmetry of movements, posture, or tone
risk of painful crises or osteomyelitis, has already been should be evident on close observation.
Intracranial Abrupt onset. Reduced level of consciousness, rapid Imaging may identify
haemorrhage Headache, vomiting evolution of neurological findings. aetiology, e.g. arteriovenous
Note potential neurocutaneous signs, malformation
e.g. in hereditary haemorrhagic
telangiectasia
Arterial Abrupt or stuttering onset; latter Consciousness generally preserved Arteriopathy may be evident
ischaemic associated with arteriopathy. unless large middle cerebral artery on imaging
stroke Preceding chicken pox, febrile stroke/brainstem infarct. Note
illness, cardiac condition, neurocutaneous features,
(minor) head injury, neck injury e.g. neurofibromatosis type 1
Meningitis/ Fever, headache systemic Fever, neck stiffness, reduced level Imaging shows multiple
meningo-encephalitis symptoms of consciousness areas of involvement, not
conforming to vascular
territory, variable
diffusion-weighted imaging
characteristics, cerebrospinal
fluid shows pleocytosis,
increased protein, organism
may be isolated
Acute disseminated Fever, headache systemic Fever, neck stiffness, reduced level Mainly white matter
encephalomyelitis symptoms; subacute onset of consciousness, focal involvement in a patchy
neurological deficits distribution, variable
diffusion characteristics,
usually not restricted
Posterior reversible Seizures, drugs (cyclosporine A, Reduced level of consciousness, Patchy grey and white matter
encephalopathy tacrolimus, cyclophosphamide) arterial hypertension involvement, usually free
syndrome diffusion
Bleeding or Preceding chronic/subacute
oedema history of neurological
associated with symptoms followed by acute
CNS tumour change
Metabolic History of developmental delay, Movement disorder, seizures Symmetric basal ganglia/
hypotonia, fatigue, brainstem involvement,
encephalopathy, vomiting white mater changes,
changes not confined to a
vascular territory, abnormal
biochemistry
Reversible cerebral History of thunderclap headache, Focal neurological deficit Vascular imaging shows
vasoconstriction history of vasoactive drugs diffuse segmental narrowing
syndrome of intracranial arteries
Hemiplegic Headache, history of recurrent Hemiparesis generally resolves Normal imaging; genetic
migraine episodes with normal imaging, in 72h (rarely longer) testing may be considered
family history of hemiplegic
migraine
Postictala Preceding focal motor seizure, Normal imaging,
history of epilepsy electroencephalography
may be helpful
Non-organica Fluctuating weakness, Examination findings not Normal investigations
disproportionate effect on confirming to neuroanatomical
function localization
a
It is important to remember that both postictal Todds paralysis and non-organic hemiparesis are diagnostic of exclusion, particularly in
younger children, and full assessment including investigations is required to exclude other causes. CNS, central nervous system.
(a) (b)
Figure 1: Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory stroke. Eleven-year-old female presented with acute dense left hemiplegia. Admission mag-
netic resonance image (a) showed right MCA territory infarction affecting large part of right MCA territory. Magnetic resonance angiogram showed evi-
dence of left internal carotid artery dissection. She was stable apart from a dense hemiplegia on admission. She deteriorated acutely after 48 hours,
rapidly progressing to coma. Axial computed tomogram (b) showed large area of hypo-density with slit-like ventricle and midline shift (malignant MCA
stroke). The case emphasizes the need for careful monitoring for late deterioration in this group of patients.
Figure 2: Massive cerebellar infarction. Ten-year-old male presented with acute onset of headache and dizziness. He was ataxic and had mild left
sided weakness. Imaging on admission showed a large left cerebellar infarct. He became drowsy and developed bradycardia over the next 24 hours.
Computed tomography scan 24 hours later showed swelling of left cerebellar hemisphere and brainstem distortion due to the large left cerebellar
infarct. He went on have emergency posterior fossa decompression. This case highlights the need for identifying and treating raised intracranial
pressure in patients with large cerebellar infarcts.
(a) (b)
Figure 3: Stroke mimic/infection/tuberculous meningitis. Four-year-old male presented with acute left hemiplegia and was initially diagnosed to have
stroke. He had history of fever and neck stiffness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed high-signal T2 changes in the right basal ganglia region (a)
and basal meningeal enhancement after contrast (b). Cerebrospinal fluid showed evidence of inflammation, and the c-interferon test for tuberculosis
was positive. This case highlights the importance of identifying and treating infection in children with suspected stroke.
It is important to identify venous infarction as a cause management of coma can be lifesaving. It is important
of hemiplegia as this will have important management to be aware that patients with large MCA territory AIS
implications. Venous infarction is often haemorrhagic are at risk of delayed coma in the 24 to 96 hours after
and may be mistaken for primary intraparenchymal onset of the ictus. A deteriorating level of consciousness
haemorrhage. The distribution of injury on imaging may is a medical emergency, and only close and careful
be suggestive. A plain CT scan that is almost universally observation will ensure this is recognized promptly.
performed as the first investigation requires careful Important practical considerations are whether the child
examination as this will often provide diagnostic infor- is likely to need transfer to an intensive care unit, as it
mation. is clearly optimal to undertake transfer early in a
Figures 17 provide case vignettes illustrating the range planned and safe way rather than as an emergency.
of conditions that may present with hemiplegia. A further practical consideration is whether the child
is likely to need urgent neurosurgical intervention
Management (e.g. haematoma evacuation, external ventricular drain,
The initial assessment should focus on resuscitation and decompressive craniectomy).8 It would be important to
establishment of homeostasis. Early recognition and consider infection and cover with antimicrobials when
Figure 4: Stroke mimic/demyelination. Two-year-old female presented with acute onset of right-sided weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging (a)
showed a high-signal T2 lesion in the left hemisphere not typically in vascular distribution. Diffusion-weighted imaging (b) showed a mixture of free and
restricted diffusion. Apparent diffusion coefficient map (c) did not show typical restricted diffusion expected in ischaemic stroke. Follow-up imaging
showed complete resolution of the lesion.
Figure 5: Stroke mimic/posterior reversible leucoencephalopathy syndrome. Fifteen-year-old male with sickle-cell disease and nephrotic syndrome on
prednisolone and cyclosporine A presented acutely with left-sided eye deviation, left focal seizures, and left-sided weakness. His blood pressure was
180/110 and magnetic resonance imaging showed increased T2 signal bilaterally affecting parietal and occipital lobes asymmetrically. There was no evi-
dence of restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging (b) and apparent diffusion coefficient maps (c). He made a full recovery. The imaging char-
acteristics were critical for establishing the right diagnosis.
Figure 6: Stroke mimic/mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Fourteen-year-old female with documented
myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibres (MERRF) mutation presented with focal seizures and weakness of the right side. Axial T2- (a) and diffusion-
weighted imaging (b) showed high T2 signal lesions with restricted diffusion. Although the lesions are within left middle and anterior cerebral artery ter-
ritory, there is selective cortical involvement with sparing of white matter and basal ganglia. A vascular occlusion involving such large segments of
middle cerebral artery territory would be expected to involve these structures as well. This selective cortical involvement is highly suggestive of meta-
bolic stroke.
Figure 7: Stroke mimic/probable inflammation. Fifteen-year-old male presented with headache and dysarthria. A diagnosis of right cerebellar infarction
was made based on the imaging findings of T2 hyperintense lesions (a) with restricted diffusion (b). No evidence of vasculopathy or a cardiac source
for embolism was found despite extensive investigations including formal digital subtraction angiography and transoesophageal echocardiography.
Follow-up imaging (c) showed almost complete resolution of initial changes with minimal residual volume loss. This sequence of events would be in
keeping with inflammatory changes.
puncture. Sometimes the final diagnosis only becomes of protein C, protein S, functional antithrombin, acti-
apparent with the evolution of the clinical or imaging vated protein C resistance, lupus inhibitor, anticardiolipin
picture over time. Figure 8 summarizes further investiga- antibodies, prothombotic mutations (factor V Leiden
tions that may be considered according to the likely G1691A, MTHFR C677T, prothrombin G20210A), and
diagnosis. Testing for prothombotic risk factors is measurement of plasma homocysteine.9 Prothombotic
important, particularly where cerebral sinovenous throm- risk factors (except homocystinuria) are rarely the pri-
bosis is suspected. Current guidelines suggest estimation mary cause but contribute to the overall risk in the pres-
History, examination
Intracranial haemorrhage Arterial ischaemic stroke/ Venous infarction Inflammatory Metabolic PRES (Posterior reversible
haemorrhagic infarction leukoencephalopathy syndrome)
Consider LP for
CTA, consider DSA, vasculitis CTV/MRV, thrombophilia, Consider LP for CSF lactate,
MRA/CTA including microbiology including TB,
screen, consider LP for screen including urine organic acids, DNA
neck, Echo, ECG oligoclonal bands Review blood pressure
diagnosis of inflammatory homocystinuria tests for MELAS and common recordings. Check drug
vasculitis mitochondrial mutations history including OTC
muscle biopsy, metabolic
referral
Figure 8: Flow charts showing initial investigations and management of a child presenting with acute hemiparesis with normal and abnormal imaging
findings. (a) Initial assessment, (b) acute hemiparesis with abnormal neuroimaging, (c) acute hemiparesis with normal neuroimaging. CSF, cerebrospinal
fluid; CT, computed tomography; CTA, Computerised tomographic angiography; CTV, Computerised tomographic venography; DSA, digital subtraction
angiography; ECG, electrocardiogram; Echo, echocardiogram; FBC, Full blood count; LFT, liver function tests; LP, lumbar puncture; MELAS, mitochondrial
encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes; MRA, Magnetic resonance angiography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MRV, magnetic
resonance venography; OTC, Over the counter; TB, Tuberculosis; TIA, Transient ischaemic attack; U&E, urea, Creatinine and electrolytes, glucose.
ence of primary risk factors, for example vasculopathy abnormalities such as high alanine, serine, and threonine.
and are more likely to cause venous than arterial throm- Genetic testing for common mitochondrial mutations such
bosis. as mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and
Metabolic stroke is usually the result of metabolic stroke-like episodes (MELAS) or myoclonic epilepsy with
defects that cause energy failure, the most common being ragged red fibres (MERRF) is generally available; however,
respiratory chain disorders. Serum and cerebrospinal muscle biopsy with estimation of respiratory-chain enzyme
fluid lactate is usually but not universally increased. Plasma activities is often required to establish the diagnosis of
amino acids and urine organic acids may show suggestive respiratory chain disorder.
Residual deficit
Full recovery within 624h
Figure 8: (Continued).