Supernumerary phantom limbs associated with left hemispheric stroke: case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Supernumerary phantom limb (SPL) is extremely rare. Literature reports noted 17 cases that occurred after right cerebral hemispheric stroke and 2 cases that occurred after left cerebral hemispheric stroke, but without imaging diagnoses. A 45-year-old male patient complained of SPLs on the right side after recurrent left thalamic hemorrhage. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the lesion causing the left hemispheric stroke. The patient was treated conservatively. Computed tomographic scans demonstrated that the lesion had disappeared by 15 days after admission. The sensation of SPLs disappeared after 28 days. SPL may occur among patients with left hemispheric stroke, especially those with lesions in the thalamus, spastic paresis on the right side immediately after stroke, and psychiatric disorders such as alcohol and tobacco intoxication.