Decorticate posture is an abnormal posturing that involves rigidity, flexion of the arms, clenched fists, and extended legs (held out straight). The arms are bent inward toward the body with the wrists and fingers bent and held on the chest.

This type of posturing is a sign of severe damage to the brain. It requires immediate medical attention.

Decorticate posture indicates damage to the corticospinal tract, the pathway between the brain and spinal cord. Although a serious sign, it is usually more favorable than decerebrate posture.

Decorticate posture may progress to decerebrate posture, or the two may alternate. The posturing may occur on one or both sides of the body.

• Stroke
• Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage)
• Primary brain tumor
• Secondary brain tumor
• Encephalopathy
• Head injury
• Increased intracranial pressure from any cause
• Brain stem tumor
• Liver-induced brain dysfunction (hepatic encephalopathy)

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Decorticate posture Treatment

Review Date: 04/29/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)