ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the changes of somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in the upper limbs of patients with acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) cerebral infarction, and to explore its relationship with neurological impairment.Methods:From January 2015 to December 2016, 62 patients with 38 cases of male and 24 women of cerebral infarction who were treated in the department of neurology, Kailuan General Hospital were selected for a retrospectively prospective cohort study, including 38 males and 24 females.aged (66.7 ± 10.9) years old and ranging from 33.0 to 85.0 years old.According to the side of cerebral infarction, 37 cases were divided into left MCA group and 25 cases into right MCA group.During the 48 hours of admission, the electromyography evoked potential meter was used to detect the upper limb SEP, and the peak latency, amplitude and electrical activity waveform of the cerebral cortex potentials N20, P25 and N35 were recorded.Results:The results of SEP in the contralateral limbs of the left and right MCA cerebral infarction group were as follows: 1 case (2.70%) and 5 cases (20.00%) of normal median nerve; 36 cases (97.30%) and 20 cases (80.00%) of abnormality.The ratio of median nerve abnormalities in the group was statistically significant (χ 2=12.577, P<0.001). The ulnar nerve was normal in 3 cases (8.11%), 4 cases (16.00%); 34 cases (91.89%) and 21 cases (84.00%) were abnormal.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=2.320, P=0.128). The peak latency and/or amplitude of each peak decreased in 34 groups (60.71%) and 33 cases (60.00%) of the ulnar nerve; the waveform of electrical activity disappeared, 22 cases (39.29%) of median nerve and 22 cases of ulnar nerve (40.00%). The peak latency and/or amplitude decreased, the electrical activity waveform disappeared, and the median nerve and ulnar nerve were compared, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ 2=0.021, P=0.885). The National Institue of Health Storke Scale(NIHSS) scores of left and right MCA cerebral infarction group were 34 (91.89%) and 19 (76.00%) respectively.Among them, the disappearance of electrical activity waveform were 18 cases (52.94%) and 4 cases (21.05%)of median nerve; 18 cases (52.94%) and 4 cases (21.05%) of ulnar nerve.The SEP electrical activity waveform disappeared in patients with moderate or higher neurological impairment, and the median nerve and ulnar nerve were statistically significant (χ 2=20.613, 20.613, all P<0.001). Conclusion:The median nerve and ulnar nerve SEP of the contralateral upper limb, which is dominated by the acute middle cerebral artery cerebral infarction, were abnormally changed.The main manifestations were that the latency of each peak of N20, P25 and N35 was prolonged and/or the amplitude was significantly decreased, and the waveform of SEP electrical activity disappeared.In addition, the disappearance of SEP wave activities only occurred in moderate and above neurological damage