Involuntary movements of the lower extremity following dorsal root entry zone lesions in a man treated for phantom limb pain

A patient developed continuous patterned involuntary movements of abduction-adduction, flexion-extension of his right lower extremity following surgical placement of spinal dorsal root entry zone lesions for the treatment of phantom limb pain. The stereotype movements were monitored by video and electromyographic recording of quadriceps femoris and hamstring muscles. Administration of para-chlorophenylbutyric acid (baclofen) dramatically stopped the involuntary movements and electromyographic silence ensued. Voluntary muscle movements were preserved. The theoretical implications of this unique movement disorder and central patterning of motor activity within the spinal cord are discussed.