Evaluation of the Functional Progress of Post Stroke Patients Via Fiber Tractgraphy Indicates

Physical Therapy Maintains Motor Nerves over Time

Abstract

Purpose: Hemiplegic stroke patients using fiber tractography were examined for its usefulness in evaluating the severity of motor impairment after stroke, and investigated the changes in motor function over time. Method: Fifty one hemiplegic stroke patients had their nerve fiber count and motor function evaluated in order to establish a correlation. The nerve fiber counts were carried out for three groups: a control group with healthy subjects, a group with independent gait, and a group with nonindependent gait. Five of the subjects had their nerve fiber count and motor function measured over a time from the acute stage to the chronic stage. Results: A significant correlation (r=0.81, p<0.001) was observed between nerve fiber count and motor function. Comparatively, the highest fiber count was imaged in the healthy subjects, followed by gait independent group, and finally in the non-gait independent group. Of the five patients, favorable recovery in motor function showed considerably increased fiber counts in the affected hemispheres. Patients with poor recovery displayed a low fiber count in the affected hemisphere. However, increase in fiber counts were seen in the unaffected hemisphere. Conclusion: It is suggested that nerve fiber count can be used as one of the index for evaluating the motor function of stroke patients. From the results, it is speculated that in patients with favorable recovery, a significant increase in the affected hemisphere is correlated with reorganization of the corticospinal tract. In patients with poor recovery, there was an increase in the unaffected hemisphere. It is speculated that the ipsilateral corticospinal tract may play an important role.