SERIAL CHANGES IN MOTOR AND SOMATOSENSORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS IN PUTAMINAL HEMORRHAGE

Little is known about evoked potential changes in putaminal haemorrhag e. In this study, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evo ked potentials (MEPs) have been serially evaluated and their role in t he prognosis of putaminal haemorrhage is now reported. Nineteen patien ts with CT- or MRI-proven putaminal haemorrhage were examined after a mean duration of 13 days (range 2-30); there were 4 females and 9 male s, ranging in age between 25 and 70 years. The haematomas were of medi um size in 13 and large or small in 3 patients each. The changes in th e clinical picture and the SEPs and MEPs were evaluated on admission, and after 30 and 90 days. Central motor conduction time (CMCT) could n ot be recorded in 13, but was prolonged in 2 and normal in 4 patients. Median SEPs revealed the absence of near field potentials in 11 and p rolongation of N9-N20 conduction time in patient. In the follow-up per iod MEP and SEP abnormalities only changed in 5 patients; MEPs changed in 4 and SEPs in 2. The period of normalisation of MEPs ranged betwee n 1 and 6 months. CMCT correlated with motor and N9-N20 conduction tim e with sensory impairment. Eight patients had poor, 6 partial and 5 co mplete recovery. Power, sensation, CMCT, and size and location of haem atoma made positive contributions to recovery.