Ultrasonographic examination and evaluation of dysphagia in stroke patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the motor changes of the geniohyoid muscle in stroke patients with dysphagia and evaluate the value of ultrasound in the rehabilitation treatment of swallowing function. Methods Thirty patients (case group) whose swallowing function returned to normal within 3 months after comprehensive rehabilitation treatment were selected as the subjects. From the day of admission, the patients were treated for 3 weeks. After treatment, the movement range, movement time, and average movement speed of the geniohyoid muscle during swallowing 5 ml of mineral water were observed by B/M ultrasound. Twenty healthy elderly people without swallowing dysfunction were recruited as a control group. The movement of the geniohyoid muscle was observed by ultrasound. Results The movement range, movement time, and average speed of the geniohyoid muscle in the healthy elderly people were (7.798±0.996) mm, (0.897±0.113) s, and (8.696±0.915) mm/s, respectively. Before treatment, the range of movement, movement time, and average speed of the geniohyoid muscle in stroke patients with dysphagia were (6.178±0.847) mm, (1.672±0.195) s, and (3.719±0.885) mm/s, respectively. After treatment for 3 weeks, the range of movement, movement time, and average speed of the genioglossus muscle were (6.833 ±0.805) mm, 1.331s, and (5.735±0.684) mm/s, respectively. After recovery of stroke patients with dysphagia, the range of movement, movement time, and average speed of the genioglossus muscle were (7.693±0.422) mm, (0.848±0.294) s, and (8.591±0.984) mm/s, respectively. Conclusion B/M ultrasound can accurately and quantitatively evaluate the improvement of genioglossus muscle function in stroke patients with dysphagia, and provide a basis for rehabilitation treatment. Key words: Ultrasound; Genioglossus muscle; Stroke; Dysphagia; Rehabilitation treatment