Supplementary motor area (SMA) seizures
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Supplementary motor area (SMA) seizures. These present with sudden and brief tonic posturing. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Main manifestations
- These present with sudden and brief tonic posturing
- These involve the extremities and the trunk
- They usually manifest in sleep
- The posturing may spread from one body part to another
- The spread occurs over 5-10 seconds
- The posturing may be bilateral
- There is no post-ictal confusion
- Adversive posturing and loss of consciousness may occur with secondary generalization
Other manifestations
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Investigations
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Treatment
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References
- Ohara S, Ikeda A, Kunieda T, et al. Propagation of tonic posturing in supplementary motor area (SMA) seizures. Epilepsy Res 2004; 62:179-187.
- Morris HH 3rd, Dinner DS, Lüders H, Wyllie E, Kramer R. Supplementary motor seizures: clinical and electroencephalographic findings. Neurology 1988; 38:1075-1082.
- Connolly MB, Langill L, Wong PK, Farrell K. Seizures involving the supplementary sensorimotor area in children: a video-EEG analysis. Epilepsia 1995; 36:1025-1032.
- Iwasaki M, Nakasato N, Shamoto H, Tominaga T. Surgical treatment of non-lesional supplementary motor area epilepsy: two case reports. No Shinkei Geka 2009; 37:293-298.
- Fukuda M, Masuda H, Honma J, Fujimoto A, Kameyama S, Tanaka R. Ictal SPECT in supplementary motor area seizures. Neurol Res 2006; 28:845-848.
