Physiotherapy Strategies for Redefining Recovery in a Patient With Grade II Ependymoma: A Case Report.

Neuroepithelial tumors known as ependymomas can develop from cortical rests, the central canal of the spinal cord, or the ependymal cells of the cerebral ventricles. Ependymomas may arise anywhere along the neuraxis. Here, we present a 40-year-old male, a known case of grade II ependymomas, with a chief complaint of bilateral lower limb weakness and loss of sensation in the bilateral lower limb for 20 days. He started facing difficulties in performing activities such as walking, toileting activities, and squatting activities. The physiotherapy (PT) rehabilitation of the patient was tailored to achieve functional independence of the patient. The treatment session lasted for six weeks. Several outcome indicators were employed to evaluate our patient's progress toward functional recovery. Outcomes are measured using the Tone Grading Scale (TGS), the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL), manual muscle test, and the Barthel Index. Outcome measures were assessed on day one of treatment and the last day of the PT treatment. The patient's preliminary involvement in PT supported him to prevent serious complications like joint contractures and bed sores. Physical therapy is one of the most important parts of the rehabilitation practice for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

The Impact of Light Touch and Pin Prick on Functional Outcomes in Patients with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause severe lifelong functional disability and profoundly affect an individual's daily life. We investigated the prediction of patients' post-SCI functional outcomes by evaluating sensory scores rather than motor scores, as the latter's association with functional outcomes is well established. We examined patients' responses to a light touch (LT) and pin prick (PP) at admission and the response data's usefulness as predictors of functional outcomes (i.e., ability to perform activities of daily living) at discharge. This exploratory observational study used data from the Japanese National Spinal Cord Injury Database (SCI-J). Data from 3,676 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted for an SCI between 1997 and 2020 were analyzed. The motor score of the Functional Independence Measure (mFIM) at discharge was used as an index of functional outcome. A multiple regression analysis revealed that the mFIM was associated with both the LT response (ß=0.07 (0.01), p<0.001) and the PP response (ß=0.07 (0.01), p<0.001) at admission. The false discovery rate log-worth values for LT and PP were 6.6 and 8.5, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that LT and PP scores at admission can help predict patients' functional outcomes after an SCI, although the magnitude of their contributions is not high.

Association of Baseline Skeletal Muscle Mass Index With Adverse Events and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients Admitted for Rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess the associations of baseline skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) with adverse events and rehabilitation outcomes in patients admitted for rehabilitation. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Participants: The subjects were 409 patients (mean age, 79 years; men, 167 [41%]) undergoing rehabilitation because of neurologic disease, musculoskeletal disorders, or hospital-associated deconditioning. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the definition of sarcopenia by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: those with low SMI (<7.0 kg/m2 in men and <5.7 kg/m2 in women) and those with high SMI (≥7.0 kg/m2 in men and ≥5.7 kg/m2 in women). Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were adverse events including death and acute illness requiring transfer to other hospitals for specialized treatments. The secondary outcomes were rehabilitation outcomes including the efficiency scores (changes in functional independence measure [FIM] score divided by length of stay) of FIM for motor function (FIM-M) and FIM for cognitive function (FIM-C). Results: Of the 409 patients, 299 (73%) had a low SMI. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of the low SMI group relative to the high SMI group for adverse events was 2.79 (1.06-7.34). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in FIM-M efficiency scores [mean ± SD, low SMI group: 0.4 (0.58) vs high SMI group: 0.47 (0.54), P=.3] and FIM-C efficiency scores [mean ± SD, 0.05 (0.14) vs 0.06 (0.2), P=.4]. Multiple linear regression models did not show significant associations between the low SMI group and FIM-M efficiency or FIM-C efficiency scores (ß=0.064, P=.3; ß=-0.05, P=.4, respectively). Conclusion: Low baseline SMI was significantly associated with adverse events but not with rehabilitation outcomes in patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Optimizing Physiotherapeutic Approaches in Parkinson's Disease Post-spinal Fixation Surgery: A Case Report.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit both a severe neuromuscular disorder and low bone quality at presentation. These issues are made worse by inactivity and a chairbound state. Each and every pathologic and degenerative process that affects the naturally aging spine also affects these individuals. Stooped posture is a symptom of a disease and can easily cause spinal degeneration. PD is associated with many physical abnormalities that cause a unique and specific need for rehabilitation. Patients' experiences highlight the challenges doctors face in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This case report details the rehabilitation of a 67-year-old patient with PD who underwent spinal fixation for spinal stenosis and presented with complaints of weakness in both lower limbs. An advanced rehabilitation program was devised, primarily emphasizing strength training to enhance overall functionality. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted, encompassing range of motion (ROM), manual muscle testing (MMT), Oswestry Disability Index, Functional Independence Measure, Lower Limb Functional Scale, and Berg Balance Scale, all of which demonstrated noteworthy improvements in joints ROM, strength, functional independence, balance, and lower limb function. This case report underscores the significance of rehabilitation programs in such cases, highlighting their important role in enhancing overall functioning.

Improved rehabilitation efficiency after cranioplasty in patients with sunken skin flap syndrome: a case series.

PURPOSE: Sunken Skin Flap Syndrome (SSFS) is an uncommon, delayed complication after craniectomy characterized by a functional plateau or decline with variable neurologic symptoms, improving after cranioplasty. SSFS negatively impacts the rehabilitation course, with subjective reports of functional improvement after cranioplasty. However, no studies have assessed the impact of cranioplasty on functional recovery rate. This case series aims to analyze SSFS manifestations and management while awaiting cranioplasty. Also, to assess the role of cranioplasty on rehabilitation outcomes and recovery rate in SSFS patients. METHODS: Four patients were identified with SSFS in inpatient rehabilitation. Each patient had unique clinical manifestations, with multiple strategies used for symptomatic control. Patients spent an average of 23 days in rehabilitation with SSFS symptoms before cranioplasty. After cranioplasty, all patients had SSFS symptom resolution. Comparing change in functional independence measure (FIM) scores and FIM efficiency pre-and post-cranioplasty rehabilitation course, a mean improvement of 23 and 0.72 occurred after cranioplasty, respectively. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of SSFS should be considered in craniectomy patients exhibiting functional decline or plateau with associated neurological symptoms. This study suggests that FIM and FIM efficiency increases in SSFS patients after cranioplasty, supporting prompt cranioplasty to improve functional outcomes and minimize rehabilitation delays.

Association between oral health status and functional independence measure on admission in convalescent hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND: Oral health management has become increasingly important for acute inpatients. Older patients often require extended periods of medical care, and oral health management is necessary in the convalescent period following the acute period. During the convalescent period, oral health management remains unclear as convalescent hospitals have limited dental resources, and effective dental care must be provided if the objective of hospitalization is to improve life functions. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between daily functioning and oral health status at the time of admission to a convalescent hospital to aid in improving daily functioning in the convalescent period. METHODS: We included patients admitted to the rehabilitation department of a specific convalescent hospital from January to December 2021. A total of 375 patients were included in the study, with complete data records. At admission, we gathered information from the medical records, including the patient's age, sex, primary disease, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), number of teeth, and Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Ver. 27, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The mean age of the 375 participants (189 men and 186 women) was 75.0 ± 12.1 years (range, 42-97 years), and over 80% were > 65 years. About 30% of major diseases could be attributed to strokes and fractures, followed by spinal cord and spine diseases. In non-stroke patients, multiple regression analysis using FIM motor, FIM cognitive, and FIM and OHAT total scores as objective variables showed that higher total scores of MNA-SF, FOIS, and lower modified Rankin Scale and OHAT were significantly associated with better FIMs. Lower OHAT scores were significantly associated with lower FOIS and MNA-SF scores, male sex, having fewer teeth, and poor dietary patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The convalescent period is an opportune time to provide intensive dental care due to the generally stable condition and extended hospital stay. Our results suggest that oral health management, such as dysphagia rehabilitation and denture treatment, is important for maintaining and improving independence, a key objective of convalescent rehabilitation, and malnutrition improvement.

Deprescribing psychotropic medications is associated with improvements in activities of daily living in post-stroke patients.

AIMS: To examine the effect of deprescribing psychotropic medications on activities of daily living (ADLs) and swallowing function in patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation following a stroke. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke were divided into two groups: deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications decreased during hospitalization) and non-deprescribing (number of psychotropic medications increased or remained unchanged). The primary outcome measure was ADLs assessed using the Functional Independence-Measured Motor Activity (FIM-motor) score at discharge. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent association between deprescribing psychotropic medications and rehabilitation outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 586 patients enrolled, 128 with a mean age of 74.1 ± 12.7 years were included in the final analysis after being prescribed psychotropic medications, with 36 of them (28.1%) in the deprescribing group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that deprescribing psychotropic medications was independently associated with FIM-motor function at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Deprescribing psychotropic medications is positively associated with improvements in ADLs among patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation after a stroke. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 275-282.

Long-term assessment of the functional independence measure in sports-related spinal cord injury.

CONTEXT: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to traumatic sports-related etiology potentially face loss of independence. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) assesses the amount of assistance patients require and has shown sensitivity to changes in patient functional status post injury. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to (1) examine long-term outcomes following sports-related SCI (SRSCI) using FIM scoring at the time of injury, one year, and five years post-injury, and (2) determine predictors of independence at one and five-year follow-up considering surgical and non-surgical management. Few studies have investigated the cohort analyzed in this study. METHODS: The 1973-2016 National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database was used to develop a SRSCI cohort. The primary outcome of interest captured functional independence using a multivariate logistic regression, defined by FIM individual scores greater than or equal to six, evaluated at one and five years. RESULTS: A total of 491 patients were analyzed, 60 (12%) were female, 452 (92%) underwent surgery. The cohort demographics were stratified by patients with and without spine surgery and evaluated for functional independence in FIM subcategories. Increased time spent in inpatient rehabilitation and FIM score at post-operative discharge were associated with greater likelihood of functional ability at both one and five-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that SRSCI patients are a unique subset of SCI patients for whom factors repeatedly associated with independence at one year follow-up were dissimilar to those associated with independence at five-year follow-up. Larger prospective studies should be conducted to establish guidelines for this unique subcategory of SCI patients.

Correlation between trunk function improvement and recovery of activities of daily living after stroke in older adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of improved trunk function on activities of daily living in stroke patients using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 65 years who had cerebral infarction. Patients were divided into a group with improved trunk function and a group without trunk function improvement based on the difference between the calculated Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) gain at discharge and admission. RESULTS: Of the 218 patients (mean age, 79.5 ± 7.9 years; 56.9% were men) included, 110 patients had improved FACT scores. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the group with improved FACT scores had higher FIM gain (coefficient = 7.562, 95% confidence interval = 3.870-11.253, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the factors associated with FACT score improvement were the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form score at admission, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, FACT score at admission, length of hospital stay, and period of rehabilitation. DISCUSSIONS: Improvement in trunk function suggests a positive correlation with the recovery of activities of daily living in patients with cerebral infarction. This relationship should be further validated through prospective observational studies.

Association between tongue pressure and oral status and activities of daily living in stroke patients admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation unit.

BACKGROUND: Clarifying how tongue pressure in convalescent stroke patients affects oral condition and activities of daily living (ADL) is important for developing oral rehabilitation programs and for rehabilitation care to reacquire ADL. OBJECTIVE: To clarify how tongue pressure is associated with oral status, ADL, and nutritional status in stroke patients. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients aged 77.9 ± 10.0 years participated. The Japanese version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool was used to evaluate oral status. Data such as the ADL index functional independence measure (FIM), nutritional intake method, serum albumin, and body mass index were extracted from medical records. To examine factors associated with tongue pressure, multiple regression analysis was performed adjusting for confounding factors. The level of statistical significance was set at p < .05. RESULTS: In recovery phase stroke patients, tongue pressure was significantly lower in the total assistance group than in the partial assistance/independent group. In addition, tongue pressure was significantly lower in tube feeding patients than in oral feeding patients. FIM cognition score was an independent factor that had a significant effect on tongue pressure. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ADL status also affects tongue pressure, thus patients' ADL including the FIM cognition subscale should also be evaluated while measuring tongue pressure.

Anemia and Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Convalescent Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the association between anemia and recovery of physical disability in patients with functional impairment. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A convalescent rehabilitation ward. PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation due to neurologic disease, musculoskeletal disorders, or hospital-associated deconditioning. Patients were classified into 3 groups (no anemia; mild anemia [men: hemoglobin of 11.0-12.9 g/dL; women: hemoglobin of 11.0-11.9 g/dL]; and moderate/severe anemia [hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL]) based on hemoglobin levels. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The study outcomes were functional independence measures for motor function (FIM-M) score at discharge, changes in the FIM-M score between hospital admission and discharge, length of stay, and FIM-M efficiency score (change in FIM-M score divided by length of stay). A linear regression model was constructed to explore the association of anemia with the FIM-M efficiency score. As a subgroup analysis, we constructed a linear regression model to explore the association of anemia with the FIM-M efficiency score in patients with or without stroke. RESULTS: Of 376 consecutive patients with a mean age of 80 years, 258 (69%) had mild or moderate/severe anemia. There were no significant differences between the 3 groups in the FIM-M score at discharge, changes in the FIM-M score, length of stay, and FIM-M efficiency score. A multiple linear regression model showed that the FIM-M efficiency score was not associated with anemia (mild anemia group: ß=-0.02, P=.8; moderate/severe anemia group: ß=-0.005, P=.9). In the subgroup analysis of patients with or without stroke, the multiple regression model also showed no significant association between anemia and FIM-M efficiency score in each group. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia on admission was common among patients in a convalescent rehabilitation ward but was not associated with improvement of FIM-M after rehabilitation.

Transitions of Activities of Daily Living Status among Inpatients with Subacute Stroke: A Latent Class Approach.

Objectives: This study investigated the transition patterns of activities of daily living (ADL) status based on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor and cognitive items in patients who experienced subacute stroke. Methods: In this single-site, retrospective investigation, 1592 FIM samples were collected during the hospitalization of 373 stroke patients who were admitted between April 2018 and March 2020. FIM item levels were transformed from seven to three (FIM1-2, Complete Dependence; FIM3-5, Modified Dependence; FIM6-7, Independence). FIM samples were classified by latent class modeling into six latent ADL states based on the independence levels of FIM motor and cognitive items. We created an ADL status transition diagram based on the FIM sample's probability of belonging to each status at different hospitalization timepoints. Results: Transition diagrams for each ADL status at admission revealed distinct patterns. In two ADL statuses for which patients required full assistance in FIM motor items, the patients remained motor-dependent without achieving independence on discharge. In contrast, patients in transition from the other four ADL statuses largely achieved independence in motor items by the time of discharge. The time required to reach higher ADL status varied according to the initial ADL status at admission; the slowest improvement was observed in statuses initially classified as needing the most assistance, whereas many patients achieved transition within 3 months from admission. Conclusions: Based on the characteristics of patient ADL status and timing of its changes, the classification of ADL status and visualization of ADL transition can contribute to improved treatment.

The association between sarcopenia and functional outcomes in patients undergoing convalescent rehabilitation.

Sarcopenia is widely believed to be linked to poorer outcomes in inpatient rehabilitation. This study aimed to assess the impact of sarcopenia on functional outcomes and dietary intake during hospitalization in adults undergoing convalescent rehabilitation. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis at a single rehabilitation institution. The Asian Working Group Consensus Criteria for Sarcopenia was used to diagnose. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score was used at hospital discharge to measure the primary functional outcome. Energy and protein intakes during hospitalization were calculated as part of the nutritional assessment. There were 126 patients in the research (median age, 73 yr;54% women). Stroke (n = 73;53.4% sarcopenia) and musculoskeletal disorders (n = 53;56.6% sarcopenia) were among the admission diagnoses. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the FIM total score at discharge was modestly associated with sarcopenia only in stroke patients (? = 0.1872, P = 0.09), as well as significantly and independently associated with protein intake during admission only in stroke patients (? = 0.3217, P < 0.05). In hospitalized stroke patients undergoing convalescent therapy, sarcopenia is related to lower functional results. Early identification of sarcopenia and treatment with rehabilitation nutrition should be implemented in this population. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 457-463, August, 2023.

A retrospective study of Cerebrolysin in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: Cognitive and functional outcomes.

In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the neurotrophic compound Cerebrolysin on executive, cognitive, and functional performance in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) with a highly severe disability level. A total of 44 patients were included in the study, with 33 patients in the control group and 11 patients in the interventional group who received intravenous infusions of 30 mL Cerebrolysin. Both groups received standard rehabilitation therapy following the rehabilitation protocol for patients with TBI at Hospital Clínico Mutual de Seguridad. Functional and cognitive scales were evaluated at baseline, at four months, and at the endpoint of the intervention therapy at seven months (on average). The results revealed a significant improvement in the Cerebrolysin-treated group compared to the control group. Specifically, patients who received Cerebrolysin showed a moderate residual disability and a significant reduction in the need for care. Concerning the promising results and considering the limitations of the retrospective study design, we suggest that randomized controlled studies be initiated to corroborate the positive findings for Cerebrolysin in patients with moderate to severe brain trauma.

One-year changes in activities of daily living and social life in elderly patients undergoing home-based rehabilitation within 1 year of stroke onset.

[Purpose] In this study, we investigated changes in activities of daily living and social participation over 1 year in elderly patients with stroke, who underwent home-based rehabilitation. [Participants and Methods] This 1 year, multicenter cohort study included patients aged ≥65 years with diagnosis of the first onset of stroke within 1 year. Variables recorded included the functional independence measure and performance qualifiers for "d6 domestic life" and "d9 community, social, and civic life" (social life) based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. [Results] Of the 44 partients recruited at baseline, 19 completed the study over 1 year. We observed significant improvements in the functional independence measure-motor, functional independence measure-cognitive, and functional independence measure-total and in the performance qualifiers ("domestic life" and "social life") of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health tool. We also observed that the functional independence measure-total scores improved over 3 months and "domestic life" and "social life" scores gradually improved over 1 year. [Conclusion] Our results showed that activities of daily living improved earlier than other variables, including social participation, which gradually improved over 1 year and that home-based rehabilitation may effectively improve activities of daily living and social participation.

Association between National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Functional Independence Measure scores in patients with ischemic stroke from convalescent rehabilitation outcomes.

We investigated the associations among neurological severity, activities of daily living (ADLs), and clinical factors in patients with ischemic stroke in convalescent rehabilitation outcome. The study sample included 723 patients with ischemic stroke (484 men and 239 women; mean age, 73.2 ± 8.5 years) for inpatient convalescent rehabilitation. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to measure the neurological severity, and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was used to assess ADLs at discharge. Leukoaraiosis was graded based on periventricular hyperintensity (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) on magnetic resonance imaging. The correlations between NIHSS scores and total FIM scores were significant but relatively mild (r = -0.684, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that age and PVH grade significantly decreased their total FIM scores and affected the discrepancies between NIHSS scores at discharge (P < 0.001), but DWMH scores did not affect these results. Factors such as positive history of heart disease (P = 0.008) and bilateral infarction (P = 0.038) additionally decreased their total FIM scores and affected the discrepancies between NIHSS scores. These findings suggest that age, PVH, history of heart disease positive, and bilateral infarction in patients with ischemic stroke affected their performance of ADLs and the discrepancies between their neurological severities in convalescent rehabilitation outcomes, probably because the pathophysiological background of leukoaraiosis and these factors strongly decrease their ADL performance in post-phase ischemic stroke.

Effect of rehabilitation motivation on improving activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of rehabilitation motivation on activities of daily living improvement in subacute stroke patients starting intensive rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-center cohort study involving patients with a subacute stroke who were admitted to or discharged from a Recovery Rehabilitation Unit between February 2021 and August 2022. Improvement in Activity of Daily Living was evaluated using the Functional Independence Measure. We calculated the corrected motor Functional Independence Measure effectiveness using its motor-related items at admission and discharge. The Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire 2 was used to evaluate admission rehabilitation motivation, and the Relative Autonomy index was calculated. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the corrected motor Functional Independence Measure effectiveness and the Relative Autonomy Index. RESULTS: Eighty-six of the 231 patients (37.2 %) were included in the analysis. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis adjusted for demographic and clinical variables demonstrated that age, comorbidities, and Relative Autonomy Index were significantly associated with corrected motor Functional Independence Measure effectiveness (R2 = 0.423, p ≺ .001). CONCLUSION: Motivation at intensive rehabilitation initiation in patients with a subacute stroke influences Activities of Daily Living improvement. These results may help develop rehabilitation programs aimed at improving Activities of Daily Living in patients with subacute strokes.

Predicting Falls in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Multisite Study.

BACKGROUND: Fall represents one of the highest concerns in the healthcare system, especially in medical rehabilitation settings. However, there is a lack of instruments for the assessment of risk falls in the context of musculoskeletal rehabilitation. METHODS: This retrospective multisite study aimed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of four fall risk assessment tools (the Functional Independence Measure, the Fall Risk Assessment, the Schmid Fall Risk Assessment Tool, and the ePA-AC) in predicting falls in patients admitted to musculoskeletal rehabilitation in Swiss inpatient facilities. RESULTS: The data relative to 6970 individuals (61.5% females) were analyzed and 685 (9.83% of patients) fall events were registered. The area under the curve (AUC) relative to the Functional Independence Measure was 0.689, 0.66 for the Fall Risk Assessment, 0.641 for the Schmid Fall Risk Assessment Tool, and 0.675 for the ePA-AC. Among the four tools, the Functional Independence Measure had an acceptable discriminatory power in distinguishing between significant events (i.e., patients' falls) and non-events (no falls). CONCLUSION: None of the assessed tools showed highly satisfying levels of statistical sensitivity or sensibility. However, the Functional Independence Measure could be used to assess the fall risk assessment in musculoskeletal rehabilitation settings, although with some caution, since this questionnaire was not designed for this diagnostic purpose. We strongly suggest urgently designing a tool for risk assessment that is specific to this population and the rehabilitative setting.

Admission and discharge profiles of people with MS accessing in-patient rehabilitation in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation is the mainstay of management for people with disabilities of neurological origin to maximize function and reduce disability. Access to in-patient rehabilitation is usually reserved for people after crises or those who are discharged from acute care such as in stroke or trauma. Access to people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) differs across countries and unknown for Canada. With the progression of MS, quality of life (QOL) becomes more closely coupled with independence and hence timely access to rehabilitation is important. The objectives of this paper are (i) to characterize the disability profiles of people with MS admitted to in-patient rehabilitation in Canada; and (ii) to estimate the extent to which disability profiles differ from admission to discharge. METHODS: A longitudinal study of a rehabilitation admission-to-discharge cohort of 3500 people with MS was conducting using latent class analysis on the five Functional Independence Measure (FIM) subscales for Self-care, Transfers, Locomotion, Bladder/Bowel, and Cognition. The extent to which age, sex, and calendar time was associated with latent class membership, at both admission and discharge, was estimated using ordinal logistic regression, and proportional odds model was calculated for each age and sex. RESULTS: At admission five classes were identified. The two most prevalent classes included people with total or moderate dependency in all FIM subscales except cognition (n = 1205 and n = 1099). The third most common was dependent in ambulation only (n = 523), followed by dependence in ambulation with varying degree of limitation in self-care and transfers (n = 465, and n = 208). At discharge four classes were identified with the largest class comprising of people dependent in ambulation and to a lesser degree in transfers (n = 1010). The second most prevalent class was no dependency (n = 946), followed by two classes with varying dependency in all subscales but cognition (n = 678 and n = 771). CONCLUSION: Overall 62.3% of admissions transitioned to a more functional class by discharge. By discharge 28% of the population was characterized by no dependencies; however, 23% remained with dependencies in all areas. Those in the most dependent classes showed the greatest probability of transitioning to a better class at discharge highlighting the importance of reserving scarce rehabilitation services to those with more disability.

Characteristics and Functional Impact of Unplanned Acute Care Unit Readmissions during Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the incidence, characteristics and functional outcomes associated with unplanned Acute Care Unit Readmissions (ACUR) during inpatient traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation in an Asian cohort. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a single rehabilitation unit was conducted from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014. Inclusion criteria were first TBI, aged >18 years, admitted <6 months of TBI. ACUR were characterized into neurological, medical or neurosurgical subtypes. The main outcome measure was discharge and Functional Independence Measure (FIM™). Secondary outcomes included rehabilitation length of stay (RLOS). RESULTS: Of 121 eligible TBI records, the incidence of ACUR was 14% (n = 17), comprising neurologic (76.5%) and medical (23.5%) subtypes occurring at median of 13 days (IQR 6, 28.5) after rehabilitation admission. Patients without ACUR had a significantly higher admission mean (SD) FIM score compared to those with ACUR (FIM ACUR-negative 63.4 (21.1) vs. FIM ACUR-positive 50.53(25.4), p = 0.026). Significantly lower discharge FIM was noted in those with ACUR compared to those without. (FIM ACUR-positive 65.8(31.4) vs. FIM ACUR-negative 85.4 (21.1), p = 0.023) Furthermore, a significant near-doubling of RLOS was noted in ACUR patients compared to non-ACUR counterparts (ACUR-positive median 55 days (IQR 34.50, 87.50) vs. ACUR-negative median 28 days (IQR 16.25, 40.00), p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant negative functional impact and lengthening of rehabilitation duration of ACUR on inpatient rehabilitation outcome for TBI.