Post-stroke Upper Limb Spasticity Incidence for Different Cerebral Infarction Site

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence rate of post-stroke upper limb spasticity and its correlation with cerebral infarction site.

Methods: A total of 498 inpatient and outpatient cases are included in the present study. The post-stroke upper limb spasticity rate of different cerebral infarction site was calculated.

Results: A total of 498 patients with cerebral infarction are enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 91 have dropped out and 407 have completed the study. Of the completed cases, 172 are in the spasm group and 235 are in the non-spasm group. The total incidence of upper limb spasticity is 34.5%. The incidences of upper extremity spasms are 12.5%, 20%, 22.5%, 35%, 40%, and 42.5% in 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively. The incidence of upper extremity spasms increases with time. The incidences of upper limb spasticity are 12.1%, 63.3%, 58.5%, 9.4% and 8.3% when cerebral infarction occurs in the cortical and subcortical mixed areas, basal ganglia and internal capsule, cerebralcortex, brainstem and cerebellum respectively. The incidence of upper limb spasticity varies in different infarction sites (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The post-stroke upper limb spasticity rates were different according to the different cerebral infarction site. Patients with the ganglia and internal capsule infarctions had the highest risk of developing post-stroke upper limb spasticity.

Keywords: Cerebral infarction site; Post-stroke upper limb spasticity; Upper limb pain.

Figure 1

The incidence rate of spasticity and pain in the upper limb

Figure 2

The MRI diagram of the infarct site of the included patients (a,b: Basal ganglia infarction; c,d: Brainstem infarction; e,f: Cerebral cortical infarction; g,h: Subcutaneous infarction; i,j: Cerebellar infarction)