Prognosis of acute hemiplegia estimated by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography.

Blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery was measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in 15 patients suffering complete hemiplegia of less than 12 hours' duration, presumed due to cerebral ischemia. Among seven patients in whom blood velocity was greater than 30 cm/sec, five made complete or partial useful recovery of the involved hand and arm. Among eight patients in whom blood velocity was less than 30 cm/sec, one recovered completely while the other seven retained permanent total paralysis of the hand and arm.