Authors: Alessia Nicotra Nicolas K K King Maria Catley Nigel Mendoza Alison H McGregor Paul H Strutton
Publish Date: 2012/11/07
Volume: 22, Issue: 1, Pages: 189-196
Abstract
A pilot study to examine the impact of cervical myelopathy on corticospinal excitability using transcranial magnetic stimulation and to investigate whether motor evoked potential MEP and silent period SP recruitment curve RC parameters can detect changes in corticospinal function pre and postsurgeryMEP latencies for abductor pollicis brevis APB and tibialis anterior TA muscles and central motor conduction time were prolonged pre and postsurgery SP durations were differentially altered There were significant differences in parameters of RCs for 1 MEP area in APB max values S50 and TA slope between controls and patients pre and postsurgery and 2 SP duration in APB max values between patients presurgery and controlsThe findings of this pilot study suggest an uncoupling of excitatory and inhibitory pathways which persists at 3 months following cord decompression RCs for MEP and SP at 3 months provide more information on the functional status of the cord and prompts for a longer term followup
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