title: Usefulness of the combined motor evoked and somatosensory evoked potentials for the predictive index of functional recovery after primary pontine hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the predictive index of functional recovery after primary pontine hemorrhage (PPH) using the combined motor evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in comparison to the hematoma volume and transverse diameter measured with computerized tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n=14) with PPH were divided into good- and poor-outcome groups according to the modified Rankin Score (mRS). We evaluated clinical manifestations, radiological characteristics, and the combined MEP and SEP responses. The summed MEP and SEP (EP sum) was compared to the hematoma volume and transverse diameter predictive index of global disability, gait ability, and trunk stability in sitting posture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All measures of functional status and radiological parameters of the good-outcome group were significantly better than those of the poor-outcome group. The EP sum showed the highest value for the mRS and functional ambulatory category, and transverse diameter showed the highest value for "sitting-unsupported" of Berg Balance Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined MEP and SEP is a reliable and useful tool for functional recovery after PPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Center, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Keong
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Yeungnam University Hospital, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Do
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Seok
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Motor evoked potential; Pontine hemorrhage; Predictive Index; Somatosensory evoked potential