Trophic changes following early unilateral injury to the brain.

Measurements of the lengths of the feet and hands are reported for 15 neurologically normal children and for 17 children with left and 12 with right cerebral lesions. For those with left lesions the length of the left hand and foot significantly exceeded the right, while for those with right lesions the right hand and foot significantly exceeded the left. No significant foot or hand differences were found among the neurologically normal children. These findings demonstrate the association of atrophic limb-changes with unilateral brain lesions, and suggest that asymmetrical foot and hand growth may be a biological marker of early cerebral lesions.