Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study
<b>Background:</b> This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect brain microstructural changes in participants with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who experienced post-traumatic headaches, a common issue that affects quality of life and rehabilitation. Despite its prevalen...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Ho-Ching Yang Tyler Nguyen Fletcher A. White Kelly M. Naugle Yu-Chien Wu |
| author_facet | Ho-Ching Yang Tyler Nguyen Fletcher A. White Kelly M. Naugle Yu-Chien Wu |
| author_sort | Ho-Ching Yang |
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| description | <b>Background:</b> This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect brain microstructural changes in participants with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who experienced post-traumatic headaches, a common issue that affects quality of life and rehabilitation. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms behind post-traumatic headache are not well understood. <b>Methods:</b> Participants were recruited from Level 1 trauma centers, and MRI scans, including T1-weighted anatomical imaging and DTI, were acquired 1 month post-injury. Advanced imaging techniques corrected artifacts and extracted diffusion tensor measures reflecting white-matter integrity. Pain sensitivity assays were collected at 1 and 6 months post-injury, including quantitative sensory testing and psychological assessments. <b>Results:</b> Significant aberrations in axial diffusivity in the forceps major were observed in mTBI participants (<i>n</i> = 12) compared to healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 10) 1 month post-injury (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Within the mTBI group, DTI metrics at 1 month were significantly associated with pain-related and psychological outcomes at 6 months. Statistical models revealed group differences in the right sagittal stratum (<i>p</i> < 0.01), left insula (<i>p</i> < 0.04), and left superior longitudinal fasciculus (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: This study shows that DTI metrics at 1 month post-injury are sensitive to mTBI and predictive of chronic pain and psychological outcomes at 6 months. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e0682bc41cfe49f18b8f044143d3521d2025-08-20T02:04:36ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-03-0115564210.3390/diagnostics15050642Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot StudyHo-Ching Yang0Tyler Nguyen1Fletcher A. White2Kelly M. Naugle3Yu-Chien Wu4Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USADepartment of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USADepartment of Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USADepartment of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Sciences, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USADepartment of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA<b>Background:</b> This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect brain microstructural changes in participants with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who experienced post-traumatic headaches, a common issue that affects quality of life and rehabilitation. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms behind post-traumatic headache are not well understood. <b>Methods:</b> Participants were recruited from Level 1 trauma centers, and MRI scans, including T1-weighted anatomical imaging and DTI, were acquired 1 month post-injury. Advanced imaging techniques corrected artifacts and extracted diffusion tensor measures reflecting white-matter integrity. Pain sensitivity assays were collected at 1 and 6 months post-injury, including quantitative sensory testing and psychological assessments. <b>Results:</b> Significant aberrations in axial diffusivity in the forceps major were observed in mTBI participants (<i>n</i> = 12) compared to healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 10) 1 month post-injury (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Within the mTBI group, DTI metrics at 1 month were significantly associated with pain-related and psychological outcomes at 6 months. Statistical models revealed group differences in the right sagittal stratum (<i>p</i> < 0.01), left insula (<i>p</i> < 0.04), and left superior longitudinal fasciculus (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: This study shows that DTI metrics at 1 month post-injury are sensitive to mTBI and predictive of chronic pain and psychological outcomes at 6 months.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/5/642mild traumatic brain injurydiffusion tensor imagingpost-traumatic headacheendogenous pain measurepsychological-related assessments |
| spellingShingle | Ho-Ching Yang Tyler Nguyen Fletcher A. White Kelly M. Naugle Yu-Chien Wu Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study Diagnostics mild traumatic brain injury diffusion tensor imaging post-traumatic headache endogenous pain measure psychological-related assessments |
| title | Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study |
| title_full | Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study |
| title_short | Pain-Related White-Matter Changes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pilot Study |
| title_sort | pain related white matter changes following mild traumatic brain injury a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging pilot study |
| topic | mild traumatic brain injury diffusion tensor imaging post-traumatic headache endogenous pain measure psychological-related assessments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/5/642 |
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