Pit falls in stroke rehabilitation: a Pakistani perspective

To identify short comings in the stroke rehabilitation referral and consultation in Pakistan. Observational study. Stroke Clinic at Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine [AFIRM] Rawalpindi from March 2005 to September 2005. 171 patients of stroke fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Detailed history was obtained and a thorough examination with emphasis on neurological and musculoskeletal system was performed. Medical records and radiological investigations were reviewed. There were 132 [77.2%] males and 39 [22.8%] female patients. Radiological investigations were not available in some patients. In the remaining patients the frequency of Ischemic vs Hemorrhagic was 82% and 18% respectively .Involvement of right and left cerebral hemisphere was almost equal with 53% and 47% respectively. Majority, i.e 153 [89.5%] of the patients were referred as OPD cases while indoor rehabilitation consultation was made only for 18 [10.5%] patients. Only 04 [2.3%] patients were seen within 48 hours of stroke onset. In 39 [22.8%] cases consultation was made between one week to one month and for 116 [67.8%] between one to six months, while it was delayed beyond six months in 12 [7%] patients. Important shortcomings identified were non availability of physicians in rehabilitation medicine, late/ no referrals, inadequate referrals, long term placement of indwelling catheters and lack of patient and family education. Stroke is an important cause of long-term disability. Timely and comprehensive stroke rehabilitation minimizes the impairments and leads to successful reintegration of individual into the society. It is a poorly understood concept in Pakistan. Physicians are either not aware of the concept and significance of stroke rehabilitation or often confuse it with physiotherapy alone. There is a need to improve the stroke rehabilitation services in the country