Disability in patients following traumatic brain injury

Author(s): Pentland, B.

Journal/Book: Int J Rehabil Res. 1997; 20: 2-6 Boundary Row, London, England SE1 8HN. Chapman Hall Ltd. 1-10.

Abstract: Head injury results in a wide range of functional sequelae. Thus, measuring solely physical aspects of functioning may fail to highlight the actual level of disability. This study compares a commonly used measure of physical disability, the Barthel Index, with three recently devised measures - the OPCS Scales of Disability, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Functional Assessment Measure (FIM + FAM). Fifty-four head-injured subjects were assessed following discharge-from an in-patient rehabilitation unit utilizing each measure. The majority of subjects had no detectable disability according to the Barthel Index. In contrast, only four subjects (7%) attained maximal scores for independence with the OPCS scale; two (4%) with the FIM and only one subject (2%) with the FIM + FAM. This reflected the nature of the disabilities in activities such as intellectual functioning, communication, behaviour and wider aspects of mobility measured by the OPCS, FIM and FIM + FAM but not in the Barthel Index. The relationship between all measures was significant (Spearman ranked correlations P < 0.001) but correlations were greater between OPCS, FIM and FIM + FAM than with the Barthel. The results of this study would support considering the use of scales other than the Barthel Index when describing disability following traumatic head injury.

Note: Article McPherson KM, Univ Edinburgh, Astley Ainslie Hosp, Rehabil Studies Unit, Grange Loan, Edinburgh EH9 2HL, Midlothian, SCOTLAND

Keyword(s): disability; measurement; head injury; FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT SCALES; REHABILITATION

Zurück | Weiter

Disability in patients following traumatic brain injury - Which measure?