CORRELATION OF FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE MEASURE (FIM) WITH SPECT IOFETAMINE (I-123) AS A PREDICTOR OF FUNCTIONAL RETURN IN STROKE

Function following stroke is often measured using the Functional Indep endence Measure (FIM). Independence occurs when the patient achieves c ertain levels of function. SPECT imaging assesses the regional cerebra l blood flow (rCBF). Is it possible to correlate the FIM scores with S PECT imaging and predict functional return? We evaluated total of 69 s troke patients with SPECT imaging using Iofetamine (I-123). Patients w ere scanned within 14-21 days post-stroke. CT scans were evaluated and correlated with the SPECT images. This information was compared with the admission and discharge FIM scores. The rCBF reperfusion changes a nd region of stroke were evaluated and correlated with discharge funct ional status. The right parietal areas demonstrated a strong correlati on with SPECT and FIM changes as predictors of return to functional li ving status (p-value = 0.0438). The right parietal area demonstrated a n improvement in ambulation (p-value = 0.0578); the right brain correl ated with overall improvement in FIM scores and change in SPECT imagin g (p-value = 0.0833); the left brain did not exhibit significant value s. Our conclusion was that there were trends seen with the predictive value of stroke recovery using SPECT imaging. The current sample numbe r was not large enough to provide an adequate study, especially for th e left brain; a larger study is needed. This information could be usef ul to help determine patient placement for rehabilitation.