In a 27-month period, 47 selected patients with cerebrovascular accidents were studied utilizing computerized tomography or magnetic resonance image of brain, Modified Barthel Index, PULSES Profile, Brynnstrom stage and trunk control scale in an attempt to correlate radiological findings with final rehabilitation outcome and to evaluate the influences of the size and location of the lesion, which one has more effect on predicting the final outcome.

Parameters that were studied included the size, nature and location of the lesion, neurological and functional status at 3 months after the onset. Nonparametric statistical analysis assessed the impact of three independent variables of radiological findings on neurological and functional outcome at 3 months.

Small sized (less than 2 cm) lesion resulted in significantly better neurological recovery state. Infarction resulted in significantly better locomotion function than hemorrhage. Central brain damage (internal capsule, basal ganglia, thalamus) resulted in significantly higher degree of functional impairment than cortical damage. But there was no significant difference between the patients with basal ganglia lesion and the patients with thalamus lesion. Patients with small lesion and poorer outcome had significantly lower degree of functional and neurological impairment than patients with medium lesion and better outcome.

The study suggested that the size of the lesion had more impact on final outcome than location but two factors should be considered together in predicting the functional outcomes of stroke patients.