title: Somatosensory findings of pusher syndrome in stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the somatosensory findings of pusher syndrome in stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve pusher patients and twelve non-pusher patients were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were unilateral stroke, sufficient cognitive abilities to understand and follow instructions, and no visual problem. Patients were evaluated for pusher syndrome using a standardized scale for contraversive pushing. Somatosensory finding was assessed by the Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index (CSII) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) at 1 and 14 weeks after the stroke onset. Data of SEPs with median and tibial nerve stimulation were classified into the normal, abnormal, and no response group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the baseline characteristics (sex, lesion character, and side) of both groups, significant differences were not found. The score of CSII decreased in both groups at 14 weeks (p<0.05), but there were no significant differences in the CSII scores between the two groups at 1 and 14 weeks. There were no significant differences in SEPs between the two groups at 1 and 14 weeks after the stroke onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that somatosensory input plays a relatively minor role in pusher syndrome. Further study will be required to reveal the mechanism of pusher syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dong-A University College of Medicine and Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyeong Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Yeong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index; Pusher syndrome; Somatosensory evoked potentials; Stroke