Application of the monofilament cutaneous threshold test in assessing impaired touch sensation caused by central nervous system injury / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To test the utility of monofilament cutaneous threshold testing among patients with impaired touch sensation caused by central nervous system injury.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors and 30 patients with spinal cord injury were recruited. Monofilament threshold testing and cotton wool tests were performed on the bilateral forehead, face, palms and dorsum of feet among the stroke survivors. Among those with a spinal cord injury both tests were performed on each side of the L 4, L 5 and S 1 vertebrae. One week later, all were retested. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to quantify the test-retest reliability of the tests. Kappa values were calculated to determine the degree of agreement between them. Stepwise multiple linear regressions were evaluated to examine the relationship between touch perception thresholds and age, height, gender, type of injury and injured site. Results:①The ICC for the monofilament test was between 0.74 and 0.95, higher than that of the cotton wool test (ICC 0.60 to 0.83). ②The kappa value between the monofilament and cotton wool tests was 0.550, indicating good agreement. ③The types of injury and injured sites were independent correlates of the touch perception thresholds, but there was no significant correlation between the touch perception thresholds and age, height, gender or group.Conclusions:The monofilament cutaneous threshold test has good test-retest reliability, better than the cotton wool test. Therefore, it may be useful as a tool for assessing impaired touch sensation caused by central nervous system injury.