[Catamnestic studies of the occupational rehabilitation of hemiplegic patients following surgical removal of a cerebral arteriovenous angioma].

Ten patients who suffered from severe hemiplegia on account of a cerebral arteriovenous angioma had been followed up after complete removal of the angioma (total extirpation; day of surgery = Date 0). In the course of this follow-up, a total of 100 questionnaires (N = 100) became available for study through yearly catamnesis for ten years, along with other pertinent documents. - None of the patients (mean age at Date 0: 29 years, 3 months) died during follow-up. Our inclusion criterion having been permanent, severe hemiplegia, organic personality changes of a usually mild (or even slighter) degree persisted in all patients among other permanent disablements. The so-called "reduction of earning capacity" (MdE) totalled 100% in nine patients, in 1 patient it was 80%. - 82 of 100 answers concerned the positive item "getting fully dressed, unaided" (8 of 10 patients at Date 10), 90 of 100 answers the positive item "walking without attendant" (9 of 10 patients at Date 10; average walking distance 2.2 km). Relative to "training and regular-pay employment", 34 positive answers were received (n = 97; 4 of 10 patients at Date 10). Given a broader interpretation of "vocational reintegration" to include homemaking and sheltered employment, 55 positive replies were received (n = 97; 7 of 10 patients at Date 10). The various conducive factors that had contributed to these favourable outcomes in spite of the condition's severity are presented in detail.