title: Prognostic significance of central motor conduction on the non-hemiplegic side in supratentorial hematoma.
abstract: Central motor conduction abnormalities have been reported on the hemiplegic side only. In a study on supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), we found central motor conduction time (CMCT) prolongation on the non-hemiplegic side in 12 patients. This study reports the prognostic significance of CMCT prolongation on the non-hemiplegic side. CT scans were reviewed and CMCT was measured at the 2nd, 4th and 12th week. Recovery was defined on the basis of the 3 months' Barthel index score. Their mean age was 52 (range 25-60) years, 6 were males. Eight had putaminal, 3 thalamic and 1 frontal hematomata. The size of the hematoma was large in 5 and moderate in 7. The clinical signs of herniation were present in 5; radiological evidence of midline shift in 10 and tentorial herniation in 6 patients was also present. There was no other CT abnormality to account for the prolongation of CMCT on the non-hemiplegic side which returned to normal in all 5 patients after a mean duration of 34 (range 11-120) days. Five of these patients died and the remaining had a poor outcome. We conclude that CMCT prolongation on the non-hemiplegic side in supratentorial hematoma suggests a poor prognosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D015173:Supratentorial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed