Cortical reorganisation in a preterm born child with unilateral watershed infarction

Abstract

In this case report we describe the presence of a unilateral watershed infarction in a preterm born infant. Structural imaging in the neonatal period and in adolescence confirmed a typical lesion pattern compatible with watershed infarction in term born infants. Though the resulting parasagittal cleft transected the primary motor cortex, motor function of the affected hand was relatively spared. Functional MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation revealed an important role for the unaffected hemisphere in motor control of the affected hand, showing once again that early cortical reorganization may lead to a near normal hand function.