[Objective]
In recent years, many studies use DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) for recognizing the damage of central nervous system such as CST (corticospinal tract). The objective of the present study was to retrospective study about the effect of the presence of CST for functional level and therapeutic effect of rTMS (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) in acute stroke patients.
[Materials and Methods]
Thirty-three patients who admitted or transferred to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department of our hospital were recruited from July 2013 to December 2015 retrospectively. The inclusion criteria were 1) the onset is less than 6 months, 2) taking DTI MRI and 3) performing rTMS more than 10 times with high-frequency.
We classified the patients into preserved CST group (16 patients) and interrupted CST group (17 patients). The subjects examined the MBI (modified Barthel index), hand power test, JTHF (Jebsen-Taylor hand function test) and MFT (manual function test) before and after rTMS.
[Results]
There were no statistical differences between groups before and after rTMS. However, there were statistical differences in groups in MBI and hand power test. No patients could perform the JTHF in this study, no statistical analysis could be done.
[Conclusion]
The CST was not predictable for functional level and therapeutic effect of rTMS in the acute phase. However, the means were higher in preserved CST group, therefore, the prospective, large and long-term follow-up study will be needed.
In addition, most patients cannot control their fingers selective in the acute phase, therefore, JTHF would not be appropriate to examine the function. |
