Prediction of good functional recovery after stroke based on combined motor and somatosensory evoked potential findings.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate whether functional recovery after stroke, determined by the modified Rankin Scale during the neurologically stable chronic stage, is associated with the presence or absence of motor evoked potential or somatosensory evoked potential measured during the sub-acute stage at the commencement of rehabilitation.
DESIGN: Retrospective medical records review. PATIENTS: Consecutive 105 first-ever unilateral patients after stroke.
METHODS: Patients underwent motor evoked potential and somatosensory evoked potential studies at the commencement of rehabilitation (i.e. approximately 1 month post-onset), and functional recovery was measured using the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months post-onset. The independent abilities of motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials for predicting good functional recovery (modified Rankin Scale < or = 2) were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, laterality of lesion, and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores at onset of rehabilitation.
RESULTS: The adjusted logistic regression model revealed that patients with negative motor evoked potential or somatosensory evoked potential responses in the lower limb were less likely to achieve good functional recovery (odds ratio=0.057-0.099, p<0.05) relative to positive motor evoked potential and somatosensory evoked potential responses in the lower limb.
CONCLUSION: Evoked potential studies measured at the commencement of rehabilitation could be used in a complementary manner to predict functional recovery after stroke.