UPPER-LIMB SOMATOSENSORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS AS A PREDICTOR OF REHABILITATION PROGRESS IN DOMINANT HEMISPHERE STROKE PATIENTS

Background and Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the pre dictive yield of upper limb short latency somatosensory evoked potenti al (USEP) in patients with first stroke in the dominant hemisphere. Me thods: Nineteen patients (average age, 58 years) were evaluated twice: on arrival at the rehabilitation center, approximately 3 weeks after the stroke, and again approximately 10 weeks later. The clinical asses sment included a quantitative evaluation of motor ability, independenc e in activities of daily living, and communication ability. USEP was r ecorded during the week of the initial clinical evaluation. Special at tention was paid to the relations between USEP parameters and the dyna mics of the clinical condition. Results: The seven patients in whom no cortical potential could be detected showed the worst outcomes, howev er, the existence of cortical potentials in the remaining 12 patients did not provide a precise prediction of their ''rehabilitative capacit y'' (ie, the extent of their progress). A correlation was established between the amplitude of the potentials recorded over both hemispheres and changes in communication ability. Additional findings included an association between shortened central conduction time over the damage d hemisphere during the first month after stroke and improvement in mo tor ability. Conclusions: USEP can serve as an adjuvant tool for predi cting the recovery progress of stroke patients.