Predictors of Permanent and Temporary Motor Deficits in Patients Undergoing Glioma Resection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2025

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

World Neurosurgery

Source ISSN

1878-8750

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2025.124200

Abstract

Objective

To identify predictors of permanent and temporary motor deficits in patients undergoing glioma resection.

Methods

A literature search accessed the databases Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature/EBSCO, PsychInfo, Cochrane, and Wiley for studies reporting motor outcomes following surgical resection of glioma. Outcomes were stratified by patient/tumor characteristics, preoperative condition, and intraoperative factors for both permanent and temporary motor deficits. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate odds ratios.

Results

A total of 1332 titles and abstracts were reviewed resulting in the evaluation of 261 full-text articles. Data were extracted from 67 studies including 2616 patients with 371 (14%) developing permanent postoperative motor deficits, 465 (18%) developing temporary deficits, and the remaining 1780 (68%) having no deficit. Preoperative deficit was the most significant predictor of permanent postoperative motor deficit (odds ratio [OR] 6.40, confidence interval [CI] 2.82–14.5, P < 0.0001), while high preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (OR 0.98, CI 0.97–0.99, P < 0.001) and subcortical tumor location (OR 0.14, C 0.030–0.62, P = 0.001) had a lower odds of a permanent deficit. Intraoperative motor-evoked potential changes was a significant predictor of both permanent (OR 5.18, CI 1.99–13.5, P = 0.00075) and temporary (OR 9.44, CI 2.78–32.0, P = 0.0003) motor deficits.

Conclusions

Preoperative motor deficits were the most significant predictors of persistent or worsening postoperative motor deficits. Intraoperative motor-evoked potential changes were associated with both permanent and temporary deficits. High Karnofsky Performance Scale and subcortical tumor location had lower odds of permanent motor deficits.

Comments

World Neurosurgery, Vol. 200 (August 2025): 124200. DOI.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS