Prognostication Of Recovery Research Articles

Resting state functional connectivity associated with impaired proprioception post-stroke.

Deficits in proprioception, the knowledge of limb position and movement in the absence of vision, occur in ~50% of all strokes; however, our lack of knowledge of the neurological mechanisms of these deficits diminishes the effectiveness of rehabilitation and prolongs recovery. We performed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on stroke patients to determine functional brain networks that exhibited changes in connectivity in association with proprioception deficits determined by a Kinarm robotic exoskeleton assessment. Thirty stroke participants were assessed for proprioceptive impairments using a Kinarm robot and underwent resting-state fMRI at 1 month post-stroke. Age-matched healthy control (n = 30) fMRI data were also examined and compared to stroke data in terms of the functional connectivity of brain regions associated with proprioception. Stroke patients exhibited reduced connectivity of the supplementary motor area and the supramarginal gyrus, relative to controls. Functional connectivity of these regions plus primary somatosensory cortex and parietal opercular area was significantly associated with proprioceptive function. The parietal lobe of the lesioned hemisphere is a significant node for proprioception after stroke. Assessment of functional connectivity of this region after stroke may assist with prognostication of recovery. This study also provides potential targets for therapeutic neurostimulation to aid in stroke recovery.

Prognostication of Recovery of Consciousness in Patients in a Vegetative State Using Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Objectives. To study the predictive significance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in patients in a vegetative state. Materials and methods. Multivoxel MRS was carried out in 34 patients in a vegetative state with voxels in the thalamus, globus pallidus, putamen, internal capsule, fornix, brainstem, and the temporal and frontal areas of the cortex. Patients were divided into groups depending on the etiology of vegetative state: 22 patients had the sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 12 patients had the sequelae of hypoxic brain damage. The groups were comparable in terms of age and the duration of the vegetative state (mean 2.3 months). Neurological status was assessed both during the hospitalization period and at 6–12 months using the Coma Recovery Scale (CRS-R). MRS results obtained at 6–12 months were compared with baseline data. The outcome of patients with the sequelae of TBI were as follows: persistent vegetative state in six patients, minimally conscious state plus in nine patients, recovery from the state of minimal consciousness in seven. Outcomes of patients with the sequelae of hypoxia were: persistent vegetative state in 10 patients and minimally conscious state plus in two. Results. Decreases in the N-acetylaspartate/creatinine ratio in the thalamus, internal capsule, and temporal cortex correlated with poor outcomes in both groups, while higher values correlated with further recovery of consciousness. Decreases in the N-acetylaspartate/creatinine ratio and the N-acetylaspartate/N-acetylaspartate + choline + creatine ratio in the midbrain correlated with poor outcomes only in patients with the sequelae of hypoxia. Conclusions. The results obtained here suggest that MRS provides a more accurate determination of the outcome in patients with hypoxic brain damage and patients with TBI, who showed recovery of consciousness to the level of coming out of the vegetative state.

Comparison between quantitative measurements of diffusion tensor imaging and T2 signal intensity in a large series of cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients for assessment of disease severity and prognostication of recovery.

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of spinal cord dysfunction. Recently, it has been shown that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may be a better biomarker than T2-weighted signal intensity (T2SI) on MRI for CSM. However, there is very little literature on a comparison between the quantitative measurements of DTI and T2SI in the CSM patient population to determine disease severity and recovery. A prospective analysis of 46 patients with both preoperative DTI and T2-weighted MRI was undertaken. Normalized T2SI (NT2SI), regardless of the presence or absence of T2SI at the level of maximum compression (LMC), was determined by calculating the T2SI at the LMC/T2SI at the level of the foramen magnum. Regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship of fractional anisotropy (FA), a quantitative measure derived from DTI, and NT2SI individually as well their combination with baseline preoperative modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score and ∆mJOA score at the 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month follow-ups. Goodness-of-fit analysis was done using residual diagnostics. In addition, mixed-effects regression analysis was used to evaluate the impact of FA and NT2SI individually. A p value < 0.05 was selected to indicate statistical significance. Regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between FA at the LMC and preoperative mJOA score (p = 0.041) but a significant negative correlation between FA at the LMC and the ΔmJOA score at the 12-month follow-up (p = 0.010). All other relationships between FA at the LMC and the baseline preoperative mJOA score or ∆mJOA score at the 3-, 6-, and 24-month follow-ups were not statistically significant. For NT2SI and the combination of FA and NT2SI, no significant relationships with preoperative mJOA score or ∆mJOA at 3, 6, and 24 months were seen on regression analysis. However, there was a significant correlation of combined FA and NT2SI with ∆mJOA score at the 12-month follow-up. Mixed-effects regression revealed that FA measured at the LMC was the only significant predictor of ΔmJOA score (p = 0.03), whereas NT2SI and time were not. Goodness-of-fit analysis did not show any evidence of lack of fit. In this large prospective study of CSM patients, FA at LMC appears to be a better biomarker for determining long-term outcomes following surgery in CSM patients than NT2SI or the combination values at LMC.

Chapter 26 - Rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing problem in the US, with significant morbidity and economic implications. This diagnosis spans a wide breath of injuries from concussion to severe TBI. Thus, rehabilitation is equally diverse in its treatment strategies targeting those symptoms that are functionally limiting with the ultimate goal of independence and community reintegration. In severe TBI, rehabilitation can be lifelong. Acute care rehabilitation focuses on emergence from coma and prognostication of recovery. Therapeutic modalities and exercise, along with pharmacologic intervention, can target long-term motor and cognitive sequelae. Complications of severe TBI that are functionally limiting and impede therapy include heterotopic ossification, agitation, dysautonomia, and spasticity. In mild TBI, most patients recover quickly but education on repeat exposure is imperative, with the implications of consecutive injuries being potentially devastating. Furthermore, rehabilitation targets lingering symptoms including sleep disturbance, visuospatial deficits, headaches, and cognitive dysfunction. As research on the entire TBI population improves, commonalities in the disease process may emerge, helping rationalize therapeutic interventions and providing more robust targets for treatment.

Predicting outcome in the slow to respond traumatically brain-injured patient: Acute and subacute parameters

Prognostication of recovery in the slow to respond patient is difficult at best. Acute and subacute parameters have been employed to predict mortality. Variables have been identified that assist in prognostication of mortality and broadly categorized functional outcome. However, few studies have looked at specific functional outcome parame­ ters. This review will attempt to describe and discuss the acute and subacute parameters most pertinent to the slow to respond patient.

Predicting outcome in the slow to respond traumatically brain-injured patient: Acute and subacute parameters

Prognostication of recovery in the slow to respond patient is difficult at best. Acute and subacute parameters have been employed to predict mortality. Variables have been identified that assist in prognostication of mortality and broadly categorized functional outcome. However, few studies have looked at specific functional outcome parameters. This review will attempt to describe and discuss the acute and subacute parameters most pertinent to the slow to respond patient.