Article

OBJECTIVE: To test the tactile spatial resolution in chronic unilateral brain
lesions. Additionally, since sensory deficits are thought to have an impact on
motor deficits, this study investigated the correlation between tactile spatial
resolution and finger dexterity. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
PATIENTS: Twenty-two patients with unilateral brain lesions (12 children with
congenital hemiplegia and 10 patients after stroke). METHODS: Tactile spatial
resolution was measured with a grating orientation task, and finger dexterity
with the Purdue Pegboard Test. RESULTS: Major tactile spatial resolution deficits
were measured on the paretic hand and preserved abilities on the non-paretic
hand, both in children with congenital hemiplegia and in patients after stroke.
No correlation was found between the deficits of tactile spatial resolution and
digital dexterity in the paretic hand (r = 0.126; p = 0.572). CONCLUSION: The
specific location of tactile spatial resolution deficits on the hand
contralateral to the lesion was surprising when one considers the left
hemispheric dominance of tactile spatial resolution in healthy subjects. The
absence of correlation between tactile spatial resolution and dexterity deficits
suggest that these abilities are not related, suggesting that they should be
considered separately and equally integrated into the rehabilitation of
unilateral brain lesions.

Langue : ANGLAIS