title: Classification of cause of motor weakness in traumatic brain injury using diffusion tensor imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have attempted to elucidate the causes of motor weakness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Most of these studies have focused on the specific cause of motor weakness. However, little is known about the classification and elucidation of the causes of motor weakness in consecutive patients with TBI.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To attempt to classify with diffusion tensor imaging the causes of motor weakness in patients with TBI by conducting an analysis of the injury mechanism of the corticospinal tract (CST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation department of a university hospital. Patients  We recruited 41 consecutive patients who showed motor weakness among patients with TBI admitted for rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We classified the causes of weakness according to the injury mechanism of the CST on diffusion tensor imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injury mechanisms of the CST were classified as follows, in order: diffuse axonal injury, 24 patients (58.5%); traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, 9 patients (21.9%); transtentorial herniation, 6 patients (14.6%); and focal cortical contusion, 4 patients (9.8%). In patients with diffuse axonal injury, the mean number of lesions composing CST injury was 3.6 (range, 2-6) and CST injury locations were as follows: the pons (61%), the cerebral peduncle (50%), the medulla (40%), the posterior limb of the internal capsule (17%), and the corona radiata (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that diffusion tensor imaging was useful in elucidation and classification of the causes of motor weakness resulting from CST injury in patients with TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University 317-1, Daemyungdong, Namku, Taegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu Sik
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Oh Lyong
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Yoon Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Su Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult