Functional Limitations of Stroke Patients Having Orthopaedic Disabilities
Objective: To document the functional limitations of stroke patients having orthopaedic disabilities.
Method: Ten cases are presented with hemiplegia due to stroke and either having transtibial amputation fitted with a prosthesis (n=2), congenital hip subluxation with leg length discrepancy (n=5) or hip artroplasty because of degenerative osteoarthritis (n=3). Motor performance and functional disability were assessed at admission and discharge from rehabiltation clinic using Brunnstrom’s Motor Recovey Scale and motor subitems of Functional Independence Measure (mFIM), respectively. Ambulation ability was graded as community ambulation, indoor ambulation or no ambulation at discharge.
Results: The mean±SD length of stay in rehabilitation unit was 123.2±41.9 days.The mean±SD of gain in mFIM score was 8.3±2.5. One patient with ipsilateral congenital hip luxation and leg length discrepancy stayed as non-ambulatory and one patient with ipsilateral hip arthroplasty became community ambulator and the rest of the patients gained the ability of indoor ambulation at the end of the rehabilitation program.
Conclusion: Despite intensive rehabilitation efforts, patients with orthopaedic disabilities have significant functional limitations. Recognizing the limited prognosis for patients with those orthopaedic conditions is important for the patients, families and the rehabilitation team to set realistic goals.
Keywords : Stroke, orthopaedic disability, rehabilitatio