AR Fugl-Meyer

A system for evaluation of motor function, balance, some sensation qualities and joint function in hemiplegic patients is described in detail. The system applies a cumulative numerical score. A series of hemiplegic patients has been followed from within one week post-stroke and throughout one year. When initially nearly flaccid hemiparalysis prevails, the motor recovery, if any occur, follows a definable course. The findings in this study substantiate the validity of ontogenetic principles as applicable to the assessment of motor behaviour in hemiplegic patients, and foocus the importance of early therapeutic measures against contractures.

Different aspects of the quality of life before and after stroke were registered for 62 communicable, representative long-term (4-6 years) survivors, who reported the global and domain specific life satisfaction that they experienced (7 items, 6 graded-ordinal scales). Reference subjects were 60 healthy individuals in two age cohorts (60-61 years, n = 34; 79-81 years, n = 26) none of whom had been hospitalized during the last seven years prior to the investigation. The main finding is that, after the stroke, at least one aspect of the quality of life had decreased for 61% of them; this concerned global, sexual and leisure satisfaction mainly. Moreover, persisting motor impairment and ADL-disability had a negative effect on several aspects of life satisfaction. As nearly 30% of the non-impaired and the non-disabled interviewees reported decreased global life satisfaction, these changes indicate that they do not cope psychosocially with the stroke as such nor with its sequelae. In contrast, the levels of life satisfaction were similar for the 60-61 and 79-81 year-old interviewees, clinically healthy respondents, indicating stability in the quality of life that they experienced from late middle age into senectitude. For the patients, social integration estimated normatively did not covariate significantly with post-stroke satisfaction derived from social relationships.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate which factors are associated with the use of healthcare a long time after severe burn injury. METHOD: After a review process based on clinical reasoning, 69 former burn patients out of a consecutive group treated at the Uppsala Burn Unit from 1980--1995 were visited in their homes and their use of care and support was assessed in a semi-structured interview. Post-burn health was assessed with the Burn-Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) and personality was assessed with the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP). RESULTS: The participants were injured on average eight years previously. Thirty-four had current contact with healthcare due to their burn injury and had significantly lower scores on three BSHS-B-domains: Simple Abilities, Work and Hand function, and significantly higher scores for the SSP-domain Neuroticism and the SSP-scales Stress Susceptibility, Lack of Assertiveness, and lower scores for Social Desirability. There was no relation to age, gender, time since injury, length of stay, or to the surface area burned. CONCLUSIONS: A routine screening of personality traits as a supplement to long-term follow-ups may help in identifying the patient's need for care.