[Rehabilitation after stroke].

Our hospital's stroke rehabilitation programme has been evaluated through a retrospective study of the record of 183 males (mean age 60 +/- 11 years) and 94 females (mean age 59 +/- 14 years) admitted in 1982/83. 87% of the patients had motoric impairments on admission; 45% had apraxia, 17% neglect, 38% aphasia and 57% other cognitive impairments. Most patients had both motoric and cognitive problems. 79% were able to ambulate freely at discharge as opposed to 55% on admission. 88% were independent in ADL when discharged; 67% on admission. The average length of stay (LOS) was shorter (p less than 0.005) for the males (57 +/- 32 days) than for the females (68 +/- 40 days). LOS was not significantly influenced by the patients' age. 81% of the patients were discharged to their homes. Significantly fewer patients with cognitive impairments were able to return to their homes after rehabilitation than in the case of those without such problems. The presence of aphasia did not significantly affect the rehabilitation outcome. It is concluded that the major obstacles for successful rehabilitation (i.e. back to the patient's home) are the cognitive impairments.