Functional Outcomes and Characteristics of Patients with Brain Tumors after Inpatient Rehabilitation: Comparison with Ischemic Stroke

Kim, Ha Jeong; Kim, Dae Yul; Chun, Min Ho; Lee, Sook Joung

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare and discuss functional outcome and neurologic deficits of patients with either brain tumor or ischemic stroke after inpatient rehabilitation. METHOD: Sixty-two, brain tumor patients (32 benign and 30 malignant) admitted for inpatient rehabilitation during a five-year period and 70 acute ischemic stroke patients were enrolled. We retrospectively investigated their functional status at admission and discharge, the functional gain as measured by the Korean version of modified Bathel index (K-MBI) instrument, and their common neurologic deficits.
RESULTS
The K-MBI score at discharge was significantly improved in both groups (70.2 vs. 61.5). However, the K-MBI score at admission was found to be higher in the brain tumor group (45.3 vs. 35.5), whereas no significant differences were found in the K-MBI score at discharge or in the gain or efficiency of the K-MBI score. In the tumor group, the K-MBI score at discharge and the gain of the K-MBI score were significantly higher in the benign brain tumor patients. The most common neurologic deficit was motor weakness, followed by impaired cognition and cranial nerve palsy. The frequency of these deficits was more common in the ischemic stroke patients, although there were no differences between benign and malignant brain tumor groups. Brain tumor patients not receiving radiation therapy and having higher K-MBI scores at admission showed greater functional improvement (p<0.01).
CONCLUSION
Brain tumor patients can achieve comparable functional outcomes to ischemic stroke patients, and our study supports the benefits of comprehensive rehabilitation irregardless of a patient's tumor type.