The Functional Outcome of Stroke Patients with Anterior Cerebral Artery Territorial Infarct

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional outcomes of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territorial infarcts in comparison to those of middle cerebral artery (MCA) territorial infarcts. METHOD: Medical records of 1998 stroke patients admitted to Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea, from January 1, 1992 to June 31, 1999 were reviewed. Fifty-three patients had ACA occlusions. Sixteen of 53 patients who were given comprehensive rehabilitation were involved in this study. Thirty-nine patients with MCA territorial infarcts served as a control group. The data collected from chart reviews included the age, sex, the hemiparetic side, days from onset to arrival at rehabilitation service, lengths of stay in rehabilitation service, and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score of each patient. RESULTS: The ACA group showed better motor and total FIM score at discharge. They acquired better FIM efficiency, motor FIM gain, and motor FIM efficiency. Both groups showed no significant differences in cognitive FIM gain and efficiency. CONCLUSION: The ACA group had better performance in ADL than that of the MCA group as evidenced by the fact that it showed a higher FIM efficiency resulting from higher motor FIM efficiency after comprehensive rehabilitation management.