Brain lesion size and location: Effects on motor recovery and functional outcome in stroke patients

Chen C-L, Tang F-T, Chen H-C, Chung C-Y, Wong M-K. Brain lesion size and location: effects on motor recovery and functional outcome in stroke patients. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000;81:447-52. Objective: To investigate effects of brain lesion profiles that combined sizes and locations on motor recovery and functional outcome after stroke in hemiplegic patients. Design: Delimiting sizes (a threshold lesion size) of 5 primary locations were identified to establish brain lesion profiles based on magnetic resonance imaging findings 1 month after stroke. Motor and functional outcome were correlated with brain lesion profiles and other brain lesion factors to identify the most dominant factor. Setting: Medical center, rehabilitation department. Participants: Fifty-five hemiplegic patients. Main Outcome Measures: Brunnström's stages and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores were assessed 1 and 6 months after stroke. Results: With delimiting sizes for the cortical, corona radiata, internal capsule, putaminal, and thalamic regions set at 75, 4,.75, 22, and 12cm3, respectively, brain lesion profiles play a dominant role in determining final Brunnström's stages (Spearman's ρ =.861, p