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Lateral ankle instability-induced neuroplasticity in brain grey matter: A voxel-based morphometry MRI study
Xiao'ao Xue1, Yuyang Zhang2, Shengkun Li1
1Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, China.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
|July 20, 2021
Summary
Patients with lateral ankle instability (LAI) show reduced cerebellar vermis grey matter volume. This reduction correlates with the duration of instability, suggesting central nervous system changes in chronic ankle injuries.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
Background:
- Peripheral injuries like lateral ankle instability (LAI) can cause central nervous system (CNS) changes.
- Sensory pathway deficits from edema, pain, and inflammation may lead to maladaptive CNS alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate morphological differences in brain grey matter in patients with LAI compared to healthy controls.
- To assess the relationship between grey matter differences and patient characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing 30 LAI patients and 32 healthy controls.
- MRI T1 sequences and voxel-wise general linear models to compare grey matter volume.
- Linear regression to analyze associations between grey matter volume and clinical factors.
Main Results:
- Significantly reduced grey matter volume in a cerebellar vermis cluster (Vermis_4_5) in LAI patients (p < 0.05).
- Duration of LAI showed a trend towards positive association with reduced vermal grey matter volume (p = 0.092).
Conclusions:
- LAI is associated with reduced grey matter volume in the cerebellar vermis.
- The degree of cerebellar vermis grey matter reduction may be linked to the duration of lateral ankle instability.
