Lateral Corticospinal Tract and Dorsal Column Damage: Predictive Relationships With Motor and Sensory Scores at Discharge From Acute Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract Objective to determine if lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future ipsilateral lower extremity motor function (LEMS), and if dorsal column (DC) integrity demonstrates a significant predictive relationship with future light touch (LT) sensory function post SCI at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Design retrospective analyses of imaging and clinical outcomes. Setting University and academic hospital. Participants 151 participants with SCI. Interventions Inpatient rehabilitation. Main Outcome Measures LEMS and LT scores at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Results In 151 participants, right LCST spared tissue demonstrated a significant predictive relationship with right LEMS percent recovered (β = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.73, R = 0.43, p Conclusions LCST demonstrated significant moderate predictive relationships with lower extremity motor function at the time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, in an ipsilesional manner. DC integrity demonstrated a significant moderate predictive relationship with recovered function of LT. With further development, these neuroimaging methods might be used to predict potential deficits following SCI and to provide corresponding targeted interventions.