Hyeok Gyu Kwon1, Sung Ho Jang. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Namku, Taegu, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The majority of motor recovery following stroke is known to occur within 3-6 months after onset; this period is therefore regarded as critical for motor recovery in stroke patients. We report here a case of a patient with intracerebral haemorrhage who showed changes in the affected motor function and in the damaged corticospinal tract (CST) at the primary motor cortex (M1) during rehabilitative management. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old woman underwent decompressive craniectomy and removal of haematoma due to a rupture of an arteriovenous malformation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a leukomalactic lesion at the fronto-parietal cortex centred on the precentral knob. Diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired 4 times (5, 8, 11 and 18 weeks after onset) and she started rehabilitation for right hemiplegia at 5 weeks after onset. RESULTS: We found close relationships between changes in the CST branch from M1 on diffusion tensor tractography, the state of motor weakness, and the rehabilitative management: the CST branch from M1 was observed concurrently with motor recovery and the process of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: This case report indicates the importance of active and comprehensive rehabilitative management during the critical period for motor recovery in stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE: The majority of motor recovery following stroke is known to occur within 3-6 months after onset; this period is therefore regarded as critical for motor recovery in strokepatients. We report here a case of a patient with intracerebral haemorrhage who showed changes in the affected motor function and in the damaged corticospinal tract (CST) at the primary motor cortex (M1) during rehabilitative management. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old woman underwent decompressive craniectomy and removal of haematoma due to a rupture of an arteriovenous malformation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a leukomalactic lesion at the fronto-parietal cortex centred on the precentral knob. Diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired 4 times (5, 8, 11 and 18 weeks after onset) and she started rehabilitation for right hemiplegia at 5 weeks after onset. RESULTS: We found close relationships between changes in the CST branch from M1 on diffusion tensor tractography, the state of motor weakness, and the rehabilitative management: the CST branch from M1 was observed concurrently with motor recovery and the process of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: This case report indicates the importance of active and comprehensive rehabilitative management during the critical period for motor recovery in strokepatients.