- Lacunar infarcts affect the deep penetrating vessels of the middle cerebral artery and carry the best prognosis of all strokes.
- There are 4 classic syndromes characteristically caused by lacunar infarcts, with which the emergency physician should be familiar and able to recognize. They are:
- Pure motor hemiparesis.
- Pure sensory syndrome.
- Ataxic hemiparesis (ipsilateral cerebellar and motor symptoms).
- Clumsy hand dysarthria syndrome (ipsilateral hand weakness, patient may say their hand "feels awkward," dysarthria more pronounced than the weakness).