Factors Affecting Discharge to Home of Stroke Patients with Orthoses and Issues Related to Those Not Discharged to Home

Abstract

[Purpose] According to “Stroke Therapy Guidelines 2009,” standing and gait training for stroke patients using an orthosis is recommended from an early stage. This study investigated factors affecting the discharge destination and issues related to stroke patients for whom a lower limb orthosis was made. [Subjects] The subjects were 59 hemiplegic patients who were prescribed an orthosis while in a convalescence rehabilitation ward of our hospital between April 2013 and March 2014. [Methods] 24 patients were discharged to home, and 35 patients were discharged to another institution. The hospitalization period, FIM items of mobility, motor and cognitive functions, and total FIM item score at admission, and SIAS improvements (discharge score - admission score) of the hip, knee and ankle joints were compared between the two groups. [Results] The discharge to home group had significantly shorter hospitalization, better FIM mobility and total FIM item scores at both admission and discharge, and greater SIAS hip, knee, and ankle improvements than the group that was not discharged to home. [Conclusion] Our results show the patients discharged to home had comparatively less severe paralysis, whereas many among those not discharged to home were severe cases, indicating the importance of examining the methods of orthosis-use training for living activities.