ABSTRACT
Early neurological rehabilitation means starting rehabilitation of brain damaged patients already during the acute phase of the trauma or illness. It meanwhile is commonly accepted that early onset of specific neurological rehabilitation interventions will enhance medical improvement and social reintegration potential. On the other hand, the number of treatment places required for adequate early neurological rehabilitation remains a controversial, and as yet unresolved, issue in Germany. In the present study, an evaluation was undertaken for the first time to determine the local demand for early rehabilitation beds in the well-defined region of the federal state of Bremen, based on retrospective analysis of all adults treated for severe brain disease in the major Bremen clinics over a period of 22 months, i.e., between January 1992 and October 1993. A total of 146 early rehabilitation treatments was found, which is equivalent to 80 treatments a year. These results are compared with the figures and recommendations given by Kuratorium ZNS. Also, our findings document the apparent deficits in neurological rehabilitation at the time in the Land Bremen, which undoubtedly jeopardize our daily objectives, the progress and successes achieved in early intensive care.
