Effects of mechanical thrombectomy for post-stroke patients with upper limb hemiparesis: Use of Propensity Score Matching

Background: Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) is a recommended approach for post-cerebral ischemia in acute settings. Although a large amount of evidence suggests the use of MT, existing evidence has primarily focused on assessing lower limb performance or gait performance as an outcome measure. Methods: This study was to investigate whether MT would be an effective approach for improving upper limb performance in post-stroke patients.This case control was divided into two groups: 154 patients as a control group only given conventional rehabilitation; and 25 patients as an intervention group given MT and conventional rehabilitation. Outcome variables were measured by calculating the change of Fugl-Meyer Assessment score at the last intervention compared with the beginning of the intervention. Result: By comparing the FMA scores after, the propensity matching compared between before receiving therapy intervention and after, the intervention group showed as follows: 30.4 +/- 26.4-44.3 +/- 25.4, p = 0.0019, r = 0.59. The control group showed as follows: 39.9 +/- 24.1-49.1 +/- 21.3, p = 0.002, r = 0.69. Lastly, a comparison of the intervention group with the control group about their FMA score change indicates as follows: intervention group: 13.9 +/- 19.4, control group 9.2 +/- 10.0, p = 0.2967, r = 0.15. Conclusion: This study indicated that there was no significant difference between MT and a conventional approach for improving UE function. However, this is the first study to investigate the course of recovery of UE function in the acute phase after MT, and this finding supports the need for further research.