Early corticospinal tract sub-pathway lesion load and integrity predict post-stroke motor outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Growing evidence suggests that corticospinal tract (CST) damage and microstructural integrity are key predictors of post-stroke motor impairment. However, their combined clinical utility-particularly in CST sub-pathways originating from non-primary motor cortical areas-remains underexplored. This study aimed to determine whether microstructural integrity and lesion load (LL) of each CST sub-pathway at 2 weeks predict motor outcomes at 2, 6, and 12 weeks post-stroke.

Methods

Fifty seven participants completed motor and neuroimaging evaluations at 2 weeks post-stroke and underwent follow-up motor assessments at 6 (n = 37) and 12 weeks (n = 34). The integrity of the CSTs was quantified using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI), while CST-LL was measured

SUBMITTER: Wen X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12261457 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature