Article

Although cancer can affect a great number of individuals and is the second
leading cause of death in the United States, the number of individuals admitted
to acute inpatient rehabilitation units with impairments primarily as the result
of cancer diagnoses remains small. There is a lack of awareness among health care
providers as to the functional loss that can be associated with cancer and the
potential benefits of inpatient rehabilitation. Furthermore, financial pressures
from third-party payors may dissuade the admission of patients with cancer for
inpatient rehabilitation. This is a narrative review of the literature with
respect to the efficacy and potential benefits of inpatient rehabilitation for
patients with cancer. The findings of studies on the rehabilitation of general
cancer populations are presented, with a focus on functional outcomes, medical
complications and transfer rates, and common symptoms encountered during
inpatient rehabilitation. Studies that focus on tumors involving the brain and
spinal cord are separately analyzed. Functional outcomes by tumor location are
reviewed with respect to tumor type, recurrence, and comparison with nontumor
diagnoses. In addition, the effects of concomitant treatments on functional
outcomes and possible correlations of survival with functional outcome are
presented. Justification for admission of patients with cancer diagnoses to
inpatient rehabilitation units, as well as implications for management of these
patients during their rehabilitation stay, will be summarized.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS