Diffusion tensor imaging for predicting hand motor outcome in chronic stroke patients

Objective: Previous studies have indicated that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) values are related to clinical outcome in stroke patients. This prospective study explored whether DTI values were predictive for hand function outcome in chronic stroke patients. Methods: The DTI parameters (rλ₁, rλ₂₃, fractional anisotropy [rFA] and mean diffusivity [rMD]) were investigated in patients with completely paralysed hands (CPH; n = 10) or partially paralysed hands (PPH; n = 10), by two methods of analysis: segment of the corticospinal tract [sCST] analysis; pure region of interest [ROI] analysis. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between the DTI parameters and the following clinical measures: Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA]; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]. Results: Significant differences were found between CPH and PPH for rFA and rλ₂₃ (sCST analysis) and for rMD and rλ₂₃ (ROI analysis). The rλ₂₃ (sCST analysis) correlated with the NIHSS; the rMD (sCST analysis) correlated with the FMA (hand). Conclusion: The three parameters, rFA, rλ₂₃ and rMD may have predictive value for evaluating hand function outcome in chronic stroke patients.