Hemiparesis (Weakness of Arm and Leg on the Same Side)

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Hemiparesis is a neurological condition characterised by weakness or partial paralysis of the arm and leg on the same side of the body. This weakness results from damage to motor pathways in the brain or spinal cord that disrupts the nerve signals controlling the muscles on that side. The most common cause of hemiparesis is stroke, which can affect different arterial territories in the brain. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving prognosis and patient recovery.

Condition	Clinical Symptoms and Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Superior branch occlusion of the anterior cerebral artery	Weakness and sensory loss in the contralateral leg, sphincter control issues, abulia	Clinical history, neurological exam, predominant leg weakness	Brain MRI, cerebral angiography
Perforating branch occlusion of the middle cerebral artery	Severe hemiparesis, sensory loss, aphasia if affecting the dominant hemisphere	Clinical history, neurological exam, severe hemiparesis	Brain MRI, cerebral angiography
Complete infarction in the middle cerebral artery territory	Contralateral hemiparesis, sensory loss, gaze deviation, global aphasia if affecting the dominant hemisphere	Clinical history, neurological exam, signs of extensive infarction	Brain MRI, cerebral angiography
Posterior cerebral artery infarction	Contralateral homonymous hemianopia, visual deficits, mild contralateral weakness	Clinical history, neurological exam, visual disturbances	Brain MRI, cerebral angiography
Anterior cerebral artery infarction	Contralateral leg weakness and sensory loss, abulia, behavioural changes	Clinical history, neurological exam, predominant leg weakness	Brain MRI, cerebral angiography