Rehabilitation outcomes of patients with posterior circulation stroke after acute inpatient rehabilitation.
Almost 60% of posterior circulation stroke patients achieved independent ambulation by 3 months
Rehabilitation outcomes of patients with posterior circulation stroke after acute inpatient rehabilitation.
We aim to describe functional outcomes, ambulation status, discharge disposition, and early return-to-work (return-to-work) at 3 months among patients with posterior circulation stroke (posterior circulation stroke) admitted to our acute inpatient rehabilitation unit.
The study included patients with posterior circulation stroke who were discharged from the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit between 1 August 2018 and 1 April 2020, with a total of 72 patients identified.
most patients regained the ability to walk on their own
The mean total functional independence measure gain was 12.4, while functional independence measure efficiency was 1.01/day.
At discharge, 77.8% of patients returned home.
By 3 months, 90.3% of patients were living at home, while 5.6% were in nursing homes.
Younger age (odds ratio (OR) 0.75; 95% CI 0.576-0.975; p = 0.031; lower odds of return-to-work with increasing age) and higher discharge total functional independence measure scores (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.40; p = 0.026) were associated with return-to-work.
In this retrospective study, structured inpatient rehabilitation was associated with functional gains in patients with posterior circulation stroke, and most patients were discharged home.
Almost 60% achieved independent ambulation by 3 months. However, early return-to-work at 3 months was uncommon.
These findings underscore the value of inpatient rehabilitation for posterior circulation stroke patients and highlight the ongoing need for gait or balance training and vocational rehabilitation pathways.