Movement disorders following a stroke are commonly associated with damage to the basal ganglia and thalamus.' Damage to deep brain nuclei, such as thalamus, from stroke is thrice more likely to result in movement disorders than when the same occurs in more peripherally located structures. Amongst the various movement disorders described following a thalamic stroke is the striatal toe, which is an apparent extensor response, without fanning out of other toes unlike what is usually seen
corticospinal tract lesions. Striatal toe sign, in connection with lesions located in the caudate nucleus and putamen, was initially
described by Charcot and Purves-Stewart. However, it is not well established that a pathology affecting these two structures is all that is needed to produce this deformity. It can also occur in a number of other non stroke-related neurodegenerative
conditions, such as dystonia and parkinsonism." Striatal toe is an uncommon finding in most patients who suffer a hemiparetic stroke, and so its presence is highly suggestive of damage to deep brain structures.