Ipsilateral Motor Evoked Potentials in a Preschool-age Child With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Clinical Neurology

Background:

• The upper age limit for post-neonatal cerebral palsy (CP) manifestation is uncertain due to a lack of objective brain assessment tools.
• Previous research indicated that ipsilateral corticospinal projections, observed in CP patients' paretic hands, were not seen in individuals over 2 years old.

Observation:

• This case report details a 4-year-old girl with traumatic brain injury.
• The patient exhibited ipsilateral motor evoked potentials (iMEPs), a finding previously unobserved in individuals over 2 years old.

Findings:

• This represents the oldest documented case of brain injury with maintained iMEPs.
• The presence of iMEPs in this older child challenges previous age limitations.

Implications:

• Ipsilateral motor evoked potentials (iMEPs) may serve as a crucial indicator of motor system plasticity in the developing brain.
• This finding could refine our understanding of brain injury recovery and developmental trajectories in children.
• Further research is warranted to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of iMEPs in pediatric neurology.