Relationship between Fractional Anisotropy of Corticospinal Tract and Motor Function in Stroke Patients Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To explore the relationship between fractional anisotropy (FA) of corticospinal tract (CST) and motor function in stroke patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods From January, 2013 to October, 2016, 36 stroke patients were evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Japan Upper Limb Function Test and DTI before and eight weeks after rehabilitation. FA in posterior limb of internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and pons were obtained, including ipsilesional and contralesional CST. Results The FA values within three sections of CST were significantly lower in the ipsilesional side than in the contralesional side both before and after rehabilitation (t>5.330, P0.05) in the ipsilesional side, as well as in all the sections in the contralesional side (t0.05). The FA values were positively correlated with the scores of FMA and Japan Upper Limb Function Test in all the sections both before and after rehabilitation (r>0.43, P<0.05), especially the relationship between the FA value and the score of Japan Upper Limb Function Test in the posterior limb of internal capsule (r=0.67). Conclusion DTI can be used to evaluate CST injury and the relationship be-tween CST injury and motor function.

Relationship between Corticospinal Cord Tract and Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patient: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To observe the relationship between injury of corticospinal cord tract (CST) in basal ganglia and upper limb func-tion after stroke using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods 18 stroke inpatients hospitalized from January, 2013 to July, 2015 accepted DTI, and their upper limb function was evaluated with simple Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Japan Upper Limb Function Test. The fractional anisotropy (FA) of CST in basal ganglia of affected and unaffected sides were compared, and the correlation between FA of affected CST and upper limb motor function were analyzed. Results The FA was significantly less in the affected CST than in the unaffected CST (t=-21.09, P<0.001). The FA of the affected CST correlated with the scores of simple Fugl-Meyer Assessment (r=0.570, P<0.05) and Japan Upper Limb Function Test (r=0.509, P<0.05). Conclusion CST is injured after stroke, which may related to the upper limbs motor function impairment.