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Abstract

There has been a lot of publicity directed to the consequence of brain trauma, such as headaches forgetfulness, irritability, and depression. That is only part of the sequelae. A little-known but challenging result of brain trauma is the development of or aggravation of a movement disorder such as a tremor, dystonia, a tic, or Parkinson’s Disease.

A movement disorder is an all-encompassing term that refers to a constellation of neurological issues that cause involuntary or voluntary movements or abnormal positioning of a body part. Various regions of the brain interact with each other to control movements of the body. If an injury occurs to a part of the brain that affects movement, it can trigger mobility problems and change the established line of communications. This can result in a host of unwarranted issues from a simple tic to a progressive neurological disorder that can lead to significant motor impairment over the years.

Very little has been written about the medical-legal aspects of movement disorders and brain trauma. This article attempts to fill that void. It discusses the medical aspects of post-traumatic movement disorders with a focus on the physiology of the brain and how the resultant movement maladies develop. The second section examines the legal cases where this neurological problem has become an issue.

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