Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether stroke patients who suffer from hemispatial
neglect tend to stay in hospitals longer because they are prone to limb
spasticity. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of inpatient medical notes. SETTING:
Inpatient neurorehabilitation unit of a regional UK teaching hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: All patients (N=106) admitted to the neurorehabilitation unit
between 2008 and 2010 who had suffered a stroke, as confirmed by computed
tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical coincidence of hemispatial neglect and spasticity;
length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Chi-square analyses indicated that individuals
with left neglect were nearly one third more likely to develop spasticity than
those without neglect (87% vs 57%), while nearly one half of those with
left-sided spasticity showed neglect (44% vs 13%). Individuals with neglect
stayed in the hospital 45 days longer than those without neglect, but the
presence or absence of spasticity did not affect length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: The
results provide the first statistical evidence, to the best of our knowledge,
that neglect and limb spasticity tend to co-occur poststroke, though it is only
the former that significantly prolongs stay. Diagnostic value aside, these
results are important because they tell us that the treatment of neglect should
not be overshadowed by efforts to reduce comorbid spasticity. Despite its poor
prognosis, hemispatial neglect continues to receive little targeted therapy in some units.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS