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A condition in which there is a constant succession of slow, writhing, involuntary movements of flexion, extension, pronation, and supination of the fingers and hands, and sometimes of the toes and feet. Usually caused by an extrapyramidal lesion. SYN: extrapyramidal cerebral palsy, Hammond disease. [G. athetos, without position or place]
- double a. a type of cerebral palsy manifested predominantly as bilateral involuntary movements, beginning at about the age of 3 years, and preceded by generalized hypotonia and delayed motor development. Due to various causes, including kernicterus and birth hypoxia. SYN: congenital choreoathetosis, double congenital a., Vogt syndrome.
- double congenital a. SYN: double a..
- posthemiplegic a. a unilateral a. involving hemiplegic limbs, usually seen in children. SYN: posthemiplegic chorea.
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ath·e·to·sis .ath-ə-'tō-səs n, pl -to·ses -.sēz a nervous disorder that is marked by continual slow movements esp. of the extremities and is usu. due to a brain lesion
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n.
a writhing involuntary movement especially affecting the hands, face, and tongue. It is usually a form of cerebral palsy. It impairs the child's ability to speak or use his hands; intelligence is often unaffected. Such movements may also be caused by drugs used to treat parkinsonism or by the withdrawal of phenothiazines (see also dyskinesia).
• athetotic adj.
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ath·e·to·sis (ath″ə-toґsis) [Gr. athetos not fixed + -osis] a form of dyskinesia marked by ceaseless occurrence of slow, sinuous, writhing movements, especially severe in the hands, and performed involuntarily; it may occur after hemiplegia, and is then known as posthemiplegic chorea. Called also mobile spasm. athetotic adjMedical dictionary. 2011.