Polio epidemics in the USA during the 1940s and 1950s were among the most feared diseases of the 20^th century. Sister Elizabeth Kenny and President Franklin Roosevelt both made key contributions to modern rehabilitation medicine, leading to the promotion of global progress made by the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine a half century later. Dr. Miland Knapp at the University of Minnesota was also considered a pioneer in modern rehabilitation medicine, as he supported the Kenny treatment method for acute polio patients. The Kenny method was subsequently widely adopted in the USA.

Purpose：This study examined functional outcomes and discharge disposition in patients with and without indwelling urethral catheters, who were admitted to a convalescent (Kaifukuki) rehabilitation ward (KRW) following an acute care hospital stay.

Subjects and Methods：We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 113 patients with cerebrovascular disease and traumatic brain injury who had indwelling urethral catheters at the time of admission to the KRW of our hospital between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2015. We studied the motor score of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM-M) and discharge disposition from our KRW in patients without indwelling urethral catheters.

Results：The ratio of patients without indwelling urethral catheters was 75.2％ (85 cases：catheter-free group). The catheter-free group had higher FIM-M scores and a higher rate of living at home, compared to the 28 patients with indwelling urethral catheters. The average duration until urination independence after catheter removal was 17.3 (standard deviation：21.1) days. Urination independence recovered in 80.9％ of the catheter-free group within 4 weeks after catheter removal.

Conclusion：Indwelling urethral catheter should be removed to enable discharge to home.