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Decorticate posture

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

Decorticate posture is an abnormal posturing that involves rigidity, flexion of the arms, clenched fists, and extended legs. The arms are bent inward toward the body with the wrists and fingers bent and held on the chest. This type of posturing implies severe damage to the brain with immediate need for medical attention.

Considerations:

Decorticate posture indicates damage to the corticospinal tract, the pathway between the brain and spinal cord. Although a serious sign, it is usually more favorable than decerebrate posture .

Decorticate posture may progress to decerebrate posture, or the two may alternate. The posturing may occur on one or both sides of the body.

Common Causes:

• Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage)
• Brain abscess
• Head injury
• Increased intracranial pressure from any cause
• Primary brain tumor
• Secondary brain tumor
• Stroke

• Review Date: 4/30/2007
• Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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