Parakinesia Brachialis Oscitans and Post-Stroke Motor Recovery: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study

ObjectiveA comparative analysis was conducted on the rehabilitation effects of limb functions in patients with post-stroke yawning-induced parakinesia brachialis oscitansysis (PBO), patients without PBO, and patients whose PBO naturally disappeared after the onset of the disease. MethodsThe study included ischemic stroke patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital from March 2024 to June 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: the PBO group and the non-PBO group, based on whether PBO was administered. Propensity score matching was employed to account for all covariates and perform a 1:2 matching to balance the baseline characteristics of the two groups. The matched data were used for subsequent analysis to observe the Lovett scores and FMA scores of the two groups 3 months after the onset. For 33 patients with PBO, they were divided into two groups: the persistent group and the disappearing group, based on whether the PBO lasted for more than 1 month. The Lovett scores and FMA scores of the two groups were observed 3 months after the onset. ResultsAfter propensity score matching, there were 26 patients in the PBO group and 52 patients in the non-PBO group. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were basically balanced, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the non-PBO group, the Lovett scores and FMA scores of the PBO group 3 months after the onset were higher, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the PBO persistent group, the FMA score of the PBO disappearing group 3 months after the onset was higher than that of the persistent group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in Lovett muscle strength between the two groups (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe functional recovery of patients with PBO was better than that of patients without PBO manifestation 3 months after the initial diagnosis. Moreover, patients whose PBO appeared first and then disappeared had better functional recovery than those whose PBO persisted.