Short-latency Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEPs) were elicited by median nerve stimulation in 44 patients, (33 men and 11 women, with mean age 56.7±9.2 years, with putaminal hemorrhage confirmed by CT). The amplitudes of N20 were discussed in their relationship to function predicts and sites of lesion.
Based on the amplitude ratio of N20 of the affected side to the unaffected side, the patients were devided into three groups; 1) absence of N20 (23 cases), 2) decrease of the amplitude ratio (14 cases), 3) normal ratio (7 cases). In the absence group, no patients recovered to the level of useful hand after rehabilitation. The amplitude ratio was correlated with sensory disturbance of both superficial and deep sensation.
According to the CT classification of putaminal hemorrhage, the patients were devided into five types; type I (localized in the outside of internal capsule, 3 cases), type II (extended to the anterior limb, 2 cases), type III (extended to the posterior limb, 11 cases), type IV (extended to the anterior and posterior limb, 14 cases) and type V (extended to the thalamus or subthalamus, 14 cases). In type I and type II, all patients showed normal amplitude ratio of N20. In type III, type IV, and type V, only 2 patients showed normal amplitude ratio of N20.
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