Abstract
This study was attempted to scrutinize the methods employed by many researchers to design profiles so-called predictors for outcomes in stroke. It is considered that outcomes in stroke should be more accuratelly predicted by specified syndromes resulting from stroke than by isolated symptoms. In accordance with this idea we report on our classification of the neurologic syndromes for the purpose of predicting outcomes mainly in the ambulatory ability and also on the results which have been found to be statistically satisfactory for its validity. The material consisted of 228 stroke patients whose average age was 58 years. The neurologic syndromes were classified as follows:
1) Hemiparesis syndrome. (62 cases)
1a: mainly hemiparesis (32 cases)
1b: either dysesthesia or deep sensory deficit or involuntary movement with hemiparesis. (24 cases)
1c: pseudobulbar palsy with hemiparesis. (6 cases)
2) Hemiplegia syndrome. (60 cases)
2a: mainly hemiplegia. (44 cases)
2b: either dysesthesia or deep sensory deficit with hemiplegia. (16 cases)
3) Ataxia syndrome. (6 cases) Mainly ataxia with or without cranial nerve signs.
4) Aphasia, agnosia, apraxia syndrome. (76 cases) Syndrome indicated by either aphasia or agnosia or apraxia.
4a: these symptoms with hemiparesis. (15 cases)
4b: these symptoms with hemiplegia. (61 cases)
5) Dementia syndrome. (19 cases)
5a: Dementia with hemiparesis. (7 cases)
5b: Dementia with hemiplegia. (12 cases)
6) Miscellaneous syndrome. (5 cases) Syndrome not to belong to any other syndromes.
Attempts were made to analyse statistically the differences of the independency-ratio in the ambulatory ability on discharge between each neurologic syndrome and the significant results were obtained at the p<0.05 or p<0.01 level in the almost all combination of the neurologic syndromes. Upon this statistical evaluation, identification of these neurologic syndromes seemed to add a perspective to the stroke rehabilitation and prognostication and to have valuable for the practical daily management of stroke.
