Injury of the inferior cerebellar peduncle in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: A diffusion tensor tractography study.
No study on injury of the inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP) in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been reported. This study, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), attempted to demonstrate injury of the ICP in patients with mTBI.



Three patients with mTBI resulting from a car accident and 18 normal healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. Diffusion tensor imaging data were acquired at 2 months (patient 1) and 3 months (patients 2 and 3) after onset and the ICP was reconstructed. The Balance Error Scoring System was used for evaluation of balance at the same time diffusion tensor imaging scanning was performed.



The ICPs were discontinued at the upper portion of the vertical cerebellar branch and the transverse cerebellar branch (patient 1) and the proximal portion of the transverse cerebellar branch (patients 2 and 3) compared to the normal control subjects. Regarding DTT parameters, in the three patients, the fibre number of the ICPs was decreased by more than 2 SD compared with those of subjects in the control group.



Evaluation of the ICP using DTT would be useful in patients with a balance problem after mTBI.
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Sung Ho
SH
Jang
b Department of Diagnostic Radiology , College of Medicine, Yeungnam University , Daegu , Republic of Korea.
Ji Hyun
JH
Yi
a Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Hyeok Gyu
HG
Kwon
D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001924:Brain Concussion; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002529:Cerebellar Nuclei / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
ADC; BESS; Balance Error Scoring System; DTI; DTT; FA; FN; GCS; Glasgow Coma Scale; ICP; Inferior cerebellar peduncle; LOC; PTA; TBI; apparent diffusion coefficient; balance; diffusion tensor imaging; diffusion tensor tractography; fibre number; fractional anisotropy; inferior cerebellar peduncle; loss of consciousness; mTBI; mild traumatic brain injury; post-traumatic amnesia; traumatic brain injury