Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between spinal cord damage and
specific motor function in participants with incomplete spinal cord injury
(iSCI). DESIGN: Single-blinded, cross-sectional study design. SETTING: University
setting research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with chronic cervical iSCI
(N=14; 1 woman, 13 men; average age +/- SD, 43+/-12y). INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) of spinal cord damage was performed in 14 participants with iSCI. Each
participant's damage was processed for total damage quantification, lateral
corticospinal tract (LCST) and gracile fasciculus (GF) analysis. Plantarflexion
and knee extension were quantified using an isokinetic dynamometer. Walking
ability was assessed using a 6-minute walk test. RESULTS: Total damage was
correlated with plantarflexion, knee extension, and distance walked in 6 minutes.
Right LCST damage was correlated with right plantarflexion and right knee
extension, while left LCST damage was correlated with left-sided measures. Right
and left GF damage was not correlated with the motor output measures.
CONCLUSIONS: MRI measures of spinal cord damage were correlated to motor
function, and this measure appears to have spatial specificity to descending
tracts, which may offer prognostic value after SCI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS