Correlation of upper extremity somatosensory evoked potentials with sensory and motor functions in stroke patients in different stages / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) of upper limbs, and sensory and motor functions in stroke patients in different stages. MethodsFrom June, 2021 to October, 2023, 177 stroke patients in Shijiazhuang People's Hospital were diveded into acute stage group (within 14 days, n = 25), early recovery group (14 days to one month, n = 110) and middle to late recovery group (one to six months, n = 42) according to the duration of the disease. General information of the patients was recorded; SEP examination was performed, and N20 lantency and amplitude were recorded. Monofilament touch and two-point discrimination sensation of the patient's hands were tested using the monofilament and two-point discrimination tools, respectively; and motor function was assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE). The correlation between SEP, and the sensory and motor scores in each group was analyzed. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the monofilament tactile and two-point discrimination scores among the three groups (P > 0.05). SEP was not correlated with sensory and motor functions in the acute stage group (P > 0.05); in the early recovery group, N20 latency was negatively correlated with monofilament tactile sensation (r = -0.267, P = 0.005) and positively correlated with two-point discrimination sensation (r = 0.220, P = 0.021), and N20 amplitude was positively correlated with monofilament tactile sensation (r = 0.328, P < 0.001) and FMA-UE score (r = 0.418, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with two-point discrimination (r = -0.405, P < 0.001); in the middle to late recovery group, the N20 latency was negatively correlated with FMA-UE score (r = -0.313, P = 0.044), and N20 amplitude was positively correlated with monofilament tactile sensation (r = 0.598, P < 0.001) and FMA-UE score (r = 0.393, P = 0.010), and negatively correlated with two-point discrimination (r = -0.591, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the score of monofilament tactile sensation was negatively correlated with N20 latency (β = -0.510, P = 0.046), and the FMA-UE score was positively correlated with N20 amplitude (β = 0.313, P = 0.026) in the middle to late recovery group; in the early recovery group, the two-point discriminative sensation score was negatively correlated with N20 amplitude (β = -0.270, P = 0.039). ConclusionThe correlation between SEP and sensory and motor functions becomes more significant with the prolongation of disease.