The somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) is an objective reproducible neurophysiologic measure of assessing the integrity of sensory pathways.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the values of the median nerve SEP as prognostic indicator of functional outcome after the stroke based on modified Barthel index(MBI), disability rating scale(DRS), and functional independence measure(FIM) scores. A sample is 68 patients with hemiplegia. The SEPs were classified into 3 groups based on wave patterns(no response, abnormal wave, normal wave).

The results were as follows:

1) The duration of rehabilitative treatment in group 3(normal SEP) was significantly shorter than the other groups.

2) The MBI scores in group 3 were significantly higher than the other groups.

3) The FIM scores in group 3 were significantly hihger than the other groups.

4) The self-care, mobility, locomotion, and social cognition scores in FIM in group 3 were significantly higher than the other groups.

Therefore, the study shows that the median nerve SEP is helpful to predict the functional prognosis among hemiplegic patients.