Can a cerebral infarction recover?

Written by Liu Dong Yang
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Most patients who experience a stroke have relatively good recovery after active treatment and rehabilitation exercise, but very few patients can recover to the physical state they were in before the stroke. This is mainly because after the stroke, brain cells are damaged due to ischemia and hypoxia. Since brain cells are non-regenerative tissues, it is difficult for them to regenerate once they are damaged. The function of the damaged brain cells is mainly compensated by the undamaged brain neurons.

Therefore, even with active treatment, it's not possible to return to a completely normal state. However, even so, it is still crucial to actively pursue treatment and rehabilitation exercises after a stroke, as these can significantly reduce the disability and mortality rates caused by the stroke.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Causes of Cerebral Infarction

The specific causes of cerebral infarction are mostly seen in older patients with several underlying diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Over time, without well-controlled blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, arteriosclerosis can easily form within the blood vessels, or atherosclerotic plaques can develop. Once the plaque forms, under certain triggers, the unstable detachment of the vascular plaque can occur. The embolus then moves with the blood flow into the brain and lodges in a narrowed part of the vessel, causing local blood supply areas to experience narrowing or blockage. At this point, a cerebral infarction is likely to form, leading to ischemia, necrosis, and degeneration of the brain tissue supplied by the vessel, resulting in a softening lesion. On a cranial CT scan and MRI, a local low-density shadow can be observed, which is the specific cause of the cerebral infarction.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
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Is a grade II cerebral infarction serious?

A second-degree cerebral infarction is a very serious matter that must be given significant attention clinically. Once a cerebral infarction occurs, it indicates very poor vascular quality. If proactive treatment and prevention are not undertaken to prevent further progression, the symptoms of cerebral infarction can worsen and recur frequently. This can cause severe harm not only to the patient but also to their family and society. This is particularly true for patients with severe, long-term bedridden hemiplegia, which further increases the burden on families and society. Therefore, once a cerebral infarction occurs, regardless of the circumstances, it is crucial to complete the necessary examinations and take timely treatment measures to better manage the progression of the condition.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
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Is a cerebral infarction serious?

Stroke is a very serious disease; its essence lies in the ischemic necrosis of nerve cells. A characteristic of nerve cells is that once they undergo ischemic necrosis, they cannot regenerate. Along with cardiac muscle cells, they are the only cells in the human body that cannot regenerate once they have died. Therefore, for the part of the tissue where nerve cells have already died, such as in cases of cerebral thrombosis or stroke where the tissue has already been affected, it is impossible to completely restore it. If the affected area is relatively small, some compensation might be possible. However, if the affected area is relatively large, this will lead to a significant amount of ischemic necrosis in the neural tissue, which can cause total dysfunction of various tissue structures in the body, and in more severe cases, can lead to coma and eventually the death of the patient. Therefore, it is imperative to take this seriously in clinical practice.

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Written by Shu Zhi Qiang
Neurosurgery
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How to rehabilitate from a cerebral infarction?

Brain infarction is one of the most common cerebrovascular accidents, accounting for about 65% of all cerebrovascular diseases. The types of brain infarction include lacunar infarction, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral embolism; sometimes it also includes cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Any type of brain infarction, or cerebral infarction, can cause certain neurological dysfunctions. Therefore, once the patient's condition is stabilized, it is advisable to actively consider rehabilitation treatments. These rehabilitation treatments mainly include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, acupuncture rehabilitation, and physical rehabilitation therapy.

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Written by Gao Yi Shen
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How to treat cerebral infarction?

The choice of treatment for cerebral infarction depends on the specific circumstances. Treatment plans for small and large cerebral infarctions are completely different, as are the treatment plans for acute and chronic stages of cerebral infarction. For small areas of acute cerebral infarction, many cases can be treated with intravenous thrombolysis and arterial thrombectomy, which are currently very effective treatments that can significantly help in emergency situations. In the chronic phase, it is necessary to actively improve cerebral circulation, brain protection, lower lipids, stabilize blood sugar, and blood pressure, among other methods, to delay the further progression of the disease. Some cases may also require identifying the cause and opting for surgical interventions, including stent implantation and endarterectomy surgeries.