Posturographic Characteristics of Lesion Site in Stroke Patients

Kim, Hyeon Sook; Lee, Kang Woo; Sung, Duk Hyun; Hwang, Ji Hye; Kim, Tae Uk

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the posturographic characteristics of the stroke patients due to various brain lesions. METHOD: Stroke patients capable of standing without assistive devices were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to the lesion distribution: cerebral; brain stem; cerebellar. Quantitative computerized posturographic studies were performed to determine the subject's response to sensory (sensory organization test, SOT) and motor translations (motor control test, MCT).
RESULTS
Equilibrium scores of 4th (EQ4), 5th (EQ5) and 6th (EQ6) conditions and visual (VIS) and vestibular (VEST) ratio of SOT were significantly lower in brainstem and cerebellar lesion groups in comparison with normal population. In addition, prolonged latencies for medium and large backward and forward translations were noticed in the brainstem lesion group. However, there was no significant difference between cerebral lesion group and normal population. According to the lesion distribution, cerebellar group showed increased incidence of abnormalities of EQ4 score. Brainstem group showed increased incidence of abnormalities in EQ5, EQ6 score, VEST ratio and prolonged latency for large forward translation.
CONCLUSION
We found that posturography revealed characteristic appearances according to the various brain lesions, especially in cerebellum and brainstem stroke patients.