PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF CENTRAL MOTOR CONDUCTION ON THE NON-HEMIPLEGIC SIDE IN SUPRATENTORIAL HEMATOMA

Central motor conduction abnormalities have been reported on the hemip legic side only. In a study on supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), we found central motor conduction time (CMCT) prolongation on the non-hemiplegic side in 12 patients. This study reports the prognos tic significance of CMCT prolongation on the non-hemiplegic side. CT s cans were reviewed and CMCT was measured at the 2nd, 4th and 12th week . Recovery was defined on the basis of the 3 months' Barthel index sco re. Their mean age was 52 (range 25-60) years, 6 were males. Eight had putaminal, 3 thalamic and 1 frontal hematomata. The size of the hemat oma was large in 5 and moderate in 7. The clinical signs of herniation were present in 5; radiological evidence of midline shift in 10 and t entorial herniation in 6 patients was also present. There was no other CT abnormality to account for the prolongation of CMCT on the non-hem iplegic side which returned to normal in all 5 patients after a mean d uration of 34 (range 11-120) days. Five of these patients died and the remaining had a poor outcome. We conclude that CMCT prolongation on t he non-hemiplegic side in supratentorial hematoma suggests a poor prog nosis.