BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Thalamic infarction (TI) can lead to gait disturbances (GDs), even in the absence of significant motor impairments. Understanding the characteristics of GDs in TI patients is crucial for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies. Nonetheless, very little is known about the detailed gait changes in TI patients. This study aimed to investigate and characterize these parameters in TI patients.

METHODS

Ninety participants, including 45 subacute TI patients and 45 age-sex-matched healthy controls, were cross-sectionally and consecutively included from West China Hospital, Sichuan University. A detailed set of spatiotemporal gait analyses was performed with forty-one parameters as output, evaluated using the "ReadyGo" three-dimensional motion balance testing system. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and gait parameters in TI and healthy controls (HC) and performed a Fisher z-test to determine whether there was a significant difference.

RESULTS

Variability, stride length, stride speed, and swing velocity significantly differed in the affected and unaffected sides of TI patients. TI patients exhibited differences in thirty-eight gait parameters compared to controls. Coordination analysis revealed impairments in the timed up and go test, with longer total time, turn time, stand-up time, and reduced stride speed. Additionally, deficits were noted in the Heel-Knee-Shin test and Finger-Nose test. However, no differences were found in Romberg's test. Balance assessment showed variations in sit time, torso rocking degree, torso forward roll degree, and walking speed. The correlation between gait parameters and CSVD in TI and HC is presented. Additionally, it was found that total burden leads to a decrease in step width in TI patients and increases trunk sway degree in the tandem stance test in TI.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates distinct spatiotemporal gait impairment patterns, coordination, and balance deficits in TI patients. Additionally, our findings suggest that the mechanisms underlying GDs may differ between TI patients and HC in relation to CSVD. These findings emphasize the need for personalized rehabilitation strategies to target these specific GDs in TI patients.