ABSTRACT
To assess the extent of functional gains measured before and after inpatient rehabilitation in patients who have brain tumors, and to identify whether the tumor type, tumor laterality, side of hemiparesis, postoperative addition therapy, cognitive dysfunction, and impairment of consciousness influences outcome. We reviewed the Barthel index(BI)of patients admitted to our hospital from Feb. 2004 to Jan. 2006. Participants numbered 133 persons, aged 52.2±15.4 years old and comprised 57 males and 76 females. All participants had functional impairments resulting from their brain tumors, and patient data was collected from their medical records retrospectively. The numbers of the patients by tumor pathology were 68 gliomas(16 Grade I·II, 52 Grade III·IV), 19 meningiomas, 15 metastatic brain tumors and 31 others. Significant improvements were found between admission and discharge BI scores for all patients, including the glioma group, meningioma group and metastatic tumor group. A significant change of BI improvement was noted between the glioma group and the meningioma group. Length of rehabilitation stay for the glioma group was significantly longer than for the meningioma and metastatic tumor groups. The highest percentage of patients discharged to home was in the glioma group(77.9%). Tumor laterality, side of hemiparesis and postoperative addition therapy all affected functional improvement. We concluded that acute inpatient rehabilitation is an effective treatment for patients with brain tumors that can help them to regain functional ability and to improve their quality of life.