Can stroke patients walk after complete lateral corticospinal tract injury of the affected hemisphere?

Abstract

The lateral corticospinal tract is the major motor pathway in humans. The role of this tract on walking, however, is uncertain. The development of diffusion tensor tractography enables corticospinal tract status to be visualized at the subcortical level. In the present study, we undertook to demonstrate that some stroke patients can walk despite complete lateral corticospinal tract injury. Ten stroke patients who were able to walk with evidence of complete unilateral lateral corticospinal tract injury, as determined by clinical course, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion tensor tractography, were recruited. We conclude that some stroke patients can walk despite complete lateral corticospinal tract injury of the affected hemisphere.