The brain has a remarkable capacity for reorganization following injury, especially during the first years of life. Knowledge of structural reorganization and its consequences following perinatal injury is sparse. Here we studied changes in brain tissue volume, morphology, perfusion and integrity in children with hemiplegia compared to typically developing children, using MRI. Children with hemiplegia demonstrated reduced total cerebral volume, with increased cerebro-spinal-fluid (CSF) and reduced total white matter volumes, with no differences in total gray matter volume, compared to typically developing children. An increase in cortical thickness at the hemisphere contra-lateral to the lesion (CLH) was detected in motor and language areas, which may reflect compensation for the gray matter loss in the lesion area or retention of ipsi-lateral pathways. In addition, reduced cortical thickness, perfusion and surface-area were detected in limbic areas. Increased CSF volume and pre-central cortical thickness and reduced white matter volume were correlated with worse motor performance. Brain reorganization of the gray matter within the CLH, while not necessarily indicating better outcome, is suggested as a response to neuronal deficits following injury early in life.
Artzi, MShiran, SWeinstein, MMyers, VTarrasch, RSchertz, MFattal-Valevski, AMiller, EGordon, AGreen, DBen Bashat, D
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences\Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Year of publication: 2016Date of RADAR deposit: 2016-04-28