Prognostic relevance of computer tomographic findings to the functional result of rehabilitation after cerebral insult

Author(s): Küthmann, M., Weimann, G., v. , H. , A

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1992; 2/2: 35-42.

Abstract: With contradictory statements in the literature, the computer tomographic findings of 117 patients (mean age 63.3 years, 46 females, 71 males) in the initial phase of cerebral insult are compared to the progress of rehabilitation to find a possible prognostic connection. The CCT findings were qualitatively differentiated into bleedings (13 %), infarcts (64 %) and pictures without pathological findings (23 %), quantitatively into lesions involving less than 1/4 of the hemisphere and those involving more than 1/4 and considering the structure involved as cortical (33 %) or subcortical (44 %) lesions. Of the alltogether 2,432 items registered in the patients, a representative selection was made to assess certain functions. The intraindividual examination of changes in single functions as well as in functional patterns during the Progress of rehabilitation reveals statistically significant connections with initial CCT findings. For global indices of activities in everyday life, e.g. the Barthel index, such a correlation could not be demonstrated, which is in agreement with the literature. The results obtained from a relatively small number of patients should be proved in a bigger, prospectively examined, group, involving not only motor functions but neuropsychological parameters as well. Perhaps this will result in an even more differentiated prognostic meaningfulness of CCT for successful rehabilitation expected in the long term.

Keyword(s): Zerebraler Insult

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