Pre-stroke socioeconomic status predicts upper limb motor recovery after inpatient neurorehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher mortality rates and the likelihood of receiving less evidence-based treatment after stroke. In contrast, little is known about the impact of SES on recovery after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of SES on long-term recovery after stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective, observational, multicentre study, inpatients were recruited towards the end of rehabilitation. The 12-month follow-up focussed on upper limb motor recovery, measured by the Fugl-Meyer score. A clinically relevant improvement of ≥5.25 points was considered recovery. Patient-centric measures such as the Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-Physical Health (PROMIS-10 PH) provided secondary outcomes. Information on schooling, vocational training, income and occupational status pre-stroke entered a multidimensional SES index. Multivariate logistic regression models calculating odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were applied. SES was added to an initial model including age, sex and baseline neurological deficit. Additional exploratory analyses examined the association between SES and outpatient treatment. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-six patients were enrolled of whom 98 had SES and long-term recovery data. Model comparisons showed the SES-model superior to the initial model (Akaike information criterion (AIC): 123 vs. 120, Pseudo R2: 0.09 vs. 0.13). The likelihood of motor recovery (OR = 17.12, 95%CI = 1.31; 224.18) and PROMIS-10 PH improvement (OR = 20.76, 95%CI = 1.28; 337.11) were significantly increased with higher SES, along with more frequent use of outpatient therapy (p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Higher pre-stroke SES is associated with better long-term recovery after discharge from rehabilitation. Understanding these factors can improve outpatient long-term stroke care and lead to better recovery.KEY MESSAGEHigher pre-stroke socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with better long-term recovery after discharge from rehabilitation both in terms of motor function and self-reported health status.Higher SES is associated with significantly higher utilization of outpatient therapies.Discharge management of rehabilitation clinics should identify and address socioeconomic factors in order to detect individual needs and to improve outpatient recovery. Article registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT04119479.

The Posterior Cerebral Artery and its Main Cortical Branches Identified with Noninvasive Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Sonography.

PURPOSE: To differentiate PCA segments and cortical branches by means of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCD) and to measure flow parameters at rest and during visual stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 healthy subjects with a good acoustic temporal bone window were examined. The main stem of the PCA (P1, P2 and P3) and 4 main cortical branches - the anterior temporal artery (ATA), the occipital temporal artery (OTA), the parietooccipital artery (POA) and the calcarine artery (CA) - were assessed using an axial transtemporal approach. Systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities (BFVs) were recorded at rest and during visual stimulation. RESULTS: Identification of the P1 segment of the PCA was successful in 97.5% (117/120) of cases. The P2 and P3 segments were visualized in all cases. The 4 main cortical branches could be identified to varying degrees: ATA in 88%, OTA in 96%, POA in 69% and CA in 62%. There was an evoked flow response in the P2 main stem and in all cortical branches. The most pronounced increase in diastolic/systolic BFV after visual stimulation test was seen in the CA (42%/35%), followed by P2 (30%/24%), the POA (27%/27%), the OTA (16%/13%) and the ATA (9%/8%). CONCLUSION: Insonation through the temporal bone window with TCCD confidently allows the assessment of the P1 to P3 segments of the PCA as well as the 2 proximal branches, the ATA and the OTA. An ultrasound-based classification of PCA anatomy and its cortical branches may be used as a noninvasive method for the evaluation of posterior circulation pathology.

Complete basilar artery assessment by transcranial color-coded duplex sonography using the combined transforaminal and transtemporal approach.

PURPOSE: Visualization of the basilar artery (BA) by transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCD) can be challenging. The detection of stenosis or occlusion of the BA often has to rely on indirect signs like a highly pulsatile flow in the vertebral arteries. In case of a distal BA occlusion, however, the flow of the VAs can even be normal. The aim of our TCCD study was to visualize a maximum length of the BA combining the customarily used transforaminal appraoch for the proximal part and the less well known transtemporal coronal approach for the distal BA segment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TCCD was performed in 60 subjects with a good temporal bone window. Detectable extracranial or intracranial pathology was previously excluded. The BA was insonated using the transforaminal and transtemporal insonation plane and the visible length was measured. In one subject MRA was performed to substantiate our findings. RESULTS: The BA was visualized in all subjects via both approaches. The maximal detectable BA length via the transforaminal and transtemporal approach was 26 ± 8 mm and 18 ± 5 mm, respectively. Assuming a previously reported average anatomical total BA length of 33 ± 6 mm, we supposed complete vessel visualization in 44 subjects (73 %). CONCLUSION: The combined transforaminal and transtemporal insonation approach may permit total BA insonation, thus facilitating the evaluation of BA pathology.

Superior cerebellar artery - a potential pitfall in transcranial posterior cerebral artery insonation.

PURPOSE: Transcranial color-coded duplexsonography (TCCD) of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is commonly performed in an axial midbrain insonation plane. The proximal PCA is easily identified as a vessel, originating from the top of the basilar artery (BA). However, the initial segment of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) also originates from the top segment of the BA and runs in parallel. Therefore, it is possible to confuse the two vessels. The aim of our study is to anatomically differentiate the proximal PCA and SCA by means of TCCD in the coronal plane using a transtemporal approach and to analyze and compare their flow responses during a visual stimulus paradigm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 subjects without a relevant vascular pathology and with a good temporal bone window were examined. The distal BA, the proximal PCA and the SCA were insonated using a coronal insonation plane and identified by their anatomical relationship. The visible length was measured and the blood flow velocities were recorded at rest and during visual stimulation. RESULTS: The identification and differentiation of both vessels was successful in 101 of 120 hemispheres (84.2 %). The PCA systolic flow velocities at rest and during visual stimulation were 58.4 +/- 11 and 71.8 +/- 13 cm/sec (23.6 % increase), while the SCA velocities were 50.7 +/- 12 and 53.5 +/- 13 cm/sec, respectively (5.8 % increase). The difference was significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Using the coronal transtemporal insonation approach, TCCD makes it possible to identify and distinguish the proximal PCA and SCA. Our study is the first to provide a systematic ultrasound assessment of the SCA and includes data on normal flow velocities and reactivity to a visual stimulus.

Transcranial color-coded sonography successfully visualizes all intracranial parts of the internal carotid artery using the combined transtemporal axial and coronal approach.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Visualization of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) with transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) by using the transtemporal coronal plane has been described previously. Because this approach is limited to the vertical running ICA segments, we investigated the feasibility of using TCCS to visualize all intracranial ICA segments by adding the transtemporal axial approach to the coronal plane. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects with excellent transtemporal acoustic windows were examined by TCCS by using standardized axial and coronal planes. Identification rate, flow velocities, pulsatility and resistance indices, and length (as visible in color-coded power mode) were determined. RESULTS: A total of 120 intracranial ICAs from 60 subjects were investigated. By switching between the axial and coronal insonation planes, all intracranial segments of the ICA could be investigated in 100% of subjects-with the exception of the horizontal part of the petrosal ICA, which was identified in 96.7% of subjects. CONCLUSIONS: TCCS becomes a reliable tool in investigating all parts of the intracranial ICA by adding the transtemporal axial approach to the coronal plane.