Decerebrate posturing

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Decerebrate posturing is a pathological movement characterized by abnormal extension of the upper and lower extremities.

Clinical features

Decerebrate posturing manifests as follows in patients[^1]:

  • Head and trunk: Opisthotonus and clenched teeth

  • Upper extremity: Extension of the arms, adduction, and hyperpronation (internally rotated). Flexion of the fingers and wrists.

  • Lower extremity: Extension and internal rotation. Plantar flexion and inversion of the feet and plantar flexion of the toes.

Cause

Decerebrate posturing results from disinhibition of the vestibulospinal tract and the pontine Formatio reticularis, which occurs due to the absence of inhibition from the medullary reticular formation[^1].

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Edit · Alaric Steinmetz · (+93 −20)
  • Text added: “Clinical features”
  • Text added: “Decerebrate posturing manifests as follows in patients[^1]:”
  • Text added: “Cause”
  • Text added: “Decerebrate posturing results from disinhibition of the vestibulospinal tract and the pontine Formatio reticularis , which occurs due to the absence of inhibition from the medullary reticular formation[^1].”
  • Text removed: “## Clinical features {#klinik} Decerebrate posturing manifests as follows in patients[^1]:”
  • Text removed: “* Head and trunk: [Opisthotonus](\/lexikon\/opisthotonus) and clenching of the teeth * Upper extremity: Extension of the arms, adduction, and hyperpronation (internally rotated). Flexion of the fingers and wrists. * Lower extremity: Extension and internal rotation. Plantar flexion and inversion of the feet and plantar flexion of the toes.”
  • Text removed: “## Cause {#ursache} Decerebrate posturing results from disinhibition of the vestibulospinal tract and the pontine reticular formation, caused by the absence of inhibition from the medullary reticular formation[^1].”
  • Text removed: “**References**”
  • Text removed: “[^1]: Handbook of Neurosurgery. Greenberg M, ed. 9th Edition. New York: Thieme; 2019.”
  • Citation removed: “Handbook of Neurosurgery. Greenberg M, ed. 9th Edition. New York: Thieme; 2019.”
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