Postural Instability in Patients With Injury of Corticoreticular Pathway Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: We attempted to investigate postural instability in patients with injury of the corticoreticular pathway (CRP) after mild traumatic brain injury. Methods: The CRP was reconstructed, and the fractional anisotropy value, apparent diffusion coefficient value, and fiber volume of the CRP were measured. For evaluation of postural instability, both the Balance Error Scoring System score and the displacement of center of pressure were measured. Result: Significantly lower tract volume of the CRP was observed in the patient group than in the control group with no significant difference in fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient values(P > 0.05). The results of the Balance Error Scoring System shown on a firm and foam surface were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Significant increments in displacement of center of pressure for 3 stances of double-leg, single-leg, and tandem stances in distance, maximum distance, and path length were observed in the patient group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). By contrast, no significant difference in the double stance on the x axis of the distance was observed between the patient and control groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrated postural instability in patients with injury of the CRP following mild traumatic brain injury.