Inpatient rehabilitation outcomes in acquired brain injury: a retrospective study.
The objective of this study was to describe the demographic, clinical, cognitive, and functional characteristics of acquired brain injury patients, analyze complications, and evaluate inpatient rehabilitation outcomes.
Retrospective review of 50 acquired brain injury patients undergoing multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation (2019-2024). Glasgow Coma Scale, post-traumatic amnesia, cognitive scales (Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Rancho Los Amigos), Functional Ambulation Scale, and complications were assessed.
Traumatic etiology comprised 76% of cases; 72% were severe (Glasgow Coma Scale 3-8). Prolonged post-traumatic amnesia (>24 h) was significantly associated with severe injury (p<0.001). Spasticity (64%), contractures (42%), speech disorders (42%), and dysphagia (34%) were most prevalent. Functional Ambulation Scale score 0 decreased from 58 to 42% post-rehabilitation; Functional Ambulation Scale 3-5 increased from 24 to 46% (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p<0.001).
Structured multidisciplinary rehabilitation was associated with measurable functional gains in acquired brain injury patients despite severe deficits and frequent complications; however, the absence of a control group precludes causal conclusions.
Retrospective review of 50 acquired brain injury patients undergoing multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation (2019-2024). Glasgow Coma Scale, post-traumatic amnesia, cognitive scales (Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Rancho Los Amigos), Functional Ambulation Scale, and complications were assessed.
Traumatic etiology comprised 76% of cases; 72% were severe (Glasgow Coma Scale 3-8). Prolonged post-traumatic amnesia (>24 h) was significantly associated with severe injury (p<0.001). Spasticity (64%), contractures (42%), speech disorders (42%), and dysphagia (34%) were most prevalent. Functional Ambulation Scale score 0 decreased from 58 to 42% post-rehabilitation; Functional Ambulation Scale 3-5 increased from 24 to 46% (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p<0.001).
Structured multidisciplinary rehabilitation was associated with measurable functional gains in acquired brain injury patients despite severe deficits and frequent complications; however, the absence of a control group precludes causal conclusions.