The predictive value of diffusion tensor tractography in the evaluation of motor function recovery in patients with cerebral in-farction

RONG Dong-dong; WANG Pei-pei; ZHANG Miao; ZHENG Sha-sha; MA Qing-feng; CAOYan-xiang; ZHAO Zhi-lian; LU Jie; LI Kun-cheng

Abstract：Objective To explore the evolution of diffusion tensor characteristics in different stages of cerebral infarction and their relationships with motor function recovery .Methods 19 patients with pericapsular infarction underwent three DTI examinations within 7 days ,30 days and 90 days after stroke symptom onset .Motor function was assessed with Fugl-Meyer scores .Three-dimensional reconstructions of corticospinal tract were performed using DTT .The relationship be-tween corticospinal tract injury and motor function outcome at different time points was analyzed .Results 19 patients with left pericapsular infarction were divided into three types according to the ipsilateral corticospinal tract involvement on DTT .Type 2 showed the corticospinal tract located outside infarction (five cases ,FM score 96 .46 ± 7 .68);Type II showed less than 1/3 corticospinal tract located within the infarct or compression and tortuous (6 cases ,FM score 94 .20 ± 6 .84);Type III showed more than the 1/3 corticospinal tract located within the infarct (8 cases ,FM score 82 .37 ± 22.14) .The involvement of corticospinal tract was significantly negatively correlated with the FM score ( r =-0 .490 ,P=0 .033) .Follow-up DTT after 90 days ,eight patients in type III showed 4 cases in corticospinal tract intact ,with motor function complete recovery ,2 cases in corticospinal tract regeneration ,with motor function almost complete recovery ,2 cases in corticospinal tract without regeneration ,with motor function still in severe dysfunction .Conclusion DTT could demonstrate the extent of corticospinal tract injury and its dynamic changes and greatly help the evaluation of motor func-tion recovery in patients with cerebral infarction .