Relationship between the head deviation angle and hemineglect in patients with right hemisphere stroke

Abstract

Background: Patients with hemineglect have been reported to have abnormal head posture. We attempted to determine the extent to which the angles are correlated with the severity of hemineglect.

Methods: In a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional study on 40 patients with single right hemisphere stroke, we evaluated left hemineglect severity using the line bisection and line cancellation tests. Head deviation angles were measured at admission and discharge using a head device containing 3 graduated discs that determined the angles of head deviation in the sagittal, coronal and transverse planes.

Results: Head angles in the transverse and coronal planes differed significantly between the left hemineglect and non-hemineglect groups. Scores obtained from the line bisection and line cancellation tests correlated with these angles. Furthermore, improvement in left hemineglect after rehabilitation training corresponded to a reduction in the angles.

Conclusion: Stroke patients with hemineglect exhibited significant head deviations in the transverse and coronal planes. Deviation angles correlated with hemineglect test scores.