title: Spinal cord injury: one-year evolution of motor-evoked potentials and recovery of leg motor function in 255 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The description of the natural course of recovery from a spinal cord injury (SCI) with spontaneous improvement of neurological, neurophysiological, and functional measures is an important prerequisite in appraising effects of upcoming interventional therapies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the spontaneous evolution of motor-evoked potentials of the anterior tibial muscle (TA-MEP) and their relation to outcomes of lower extremity motor scores (LEMS) and walking function in patients recovering from an acute SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  TA-MEPs were assessed in 255 SCI subjects within 5 time intervals throughout the first year after SCI with combined neurological and functional measures. Tibial nerve conduction studies were performed to screen for peripheral nerve damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TA-MEP allowed stratification of SCI according to lesion severity and outcome. As MEP amplitudes increased over 12 months after SCI, this was paralleled by a significant improvement of LEMS and walking function. TA-MEP latencies remained usually stable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical outcome and walking function after SCI can be predicted independent of clinical measures by assessment of TA-MEP reflecting corticospinal tract integrity.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jens A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spiess
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curt
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schubert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation*; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology