The value of strength of voluntary grip as an indicator of recovery of arm function was assessed by testing 38 recent stroke patients using a sensitive electronic dynamometer, and comparing the results with those from five other arm movement and function tests (Motricity Index, Motor Club Assessment, Nine Hole Peg Test, and Frenchay Arm Test). This procedure allowed measurement of grip in a large proportion of patients, and strength correlated highly with performance on the other tests. Measuring grip over a six month follow up period was a sensitive method of charting intrinsic neurological recovery. The presence of voluntary grip at one month indicates that there will be some functional recovery at six months.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

The development of a disease classification system, based on the International Classification of Diseases, for use by neurologists.

Effective planning and evaluation of medical services is only possible if appropriate and reliable information is available. Diagnoses of patients seen are essential data. The epidemiological value of standard, reliable diagnostic data could also be considerable. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the only system currently available which provides a common basis of classification for general statistical use. A booklet, using ICD codes, for classifying in-patients and out-patients seen by neurologists has been developed. It is simple and easy to use, affords the necessary economy of time, and should result in uniformity of coding. Reliability studies confirm that inaccuracies occur when patients' diagnoses are coded retrospectively from their medical files, even when observers are medically trained. It is recommended that doctors should accept personal responsibility for coding patients' diagnoses at the time of consultation or discharge from hospital.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed1988

Treatment of stroke.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗

PubMed1988

Recovery of cognitive function soon after stroke: a study of visual neglect, attention span and verbal recall.

Sixty two consecutive patients admitted to hospital and surviving 6 months were tested regularly over the first 3 months after their stroke to plot recovery in three aspects of cognition: visual neglect, assessed using a cancellation task, attention span assessed using digit span, and verbal recall, tested by counting number of words remembered from a list of 10 words. Normative data were collected for the cancellation test. Fifteen patients showed recovery from visual neglect, 10 improvement in attention span and nine improvement in verbal recall. The difficulties of measuring recovery of cognitive function after stroke are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Hand contractures in Parkinson's disease.

Three cases of hand contractures due to Parkinson's disease and possible mechanisms that may be involved in their pathogenesis are described.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Dysphagia in acute stroke.

A prospective study was undertaken to define the incidence, duration, and consequences of dysphagia in an unselected group of 91 consecutive patients who had suffered acute stroke. The site of the present lesion and of any previous stroke was determined clinically and was confirmed by computed tomography of the brain or necropsy in 40 cases. Of 41 patients who had dysphagia on admission, 37 had had a stroke in one cerebral hemisphere. Only seven patients showed evidence of lesions in both hemispheres. Nineteen of 22 patients who survived a stroke in a hemisphere regained their ability to swallow within 14 days. Dysphagia in patients who had had a stroke in a cerebral hemisphere was associated in this study with a higher incidence of chest infections, dehydration, and death.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1987

Motor loss and swallowing difficulty after stroke: frequency, recovery, and prognosis.

Data relating to motor loss and swallowing difficulties in a community sample of 976 patients who suffered an acute stroke have been analysed. About 17% of patients seen within one week had no paralysis; at 6 months 48% of survivors had no paralysis and 9% had severe paralysis. The Motricity Index used to study motor loss related to functional loss and walking ability; it seems to be a simple valid measure of motor loss. Severe paralysis was associated with a high fatality rate, and only 6%-10% of survivors of an initially severe paralysis made a full recovery by 6 months. If severe persisted at 3 weeks, full recovery was not observed. Loss of sitting balance was associated with a poor outcome. Of conscious patients seen within one week, 14% choked on attempting to swallow and a further 28% had abnormal swallowing: this 42% of patients had a high fatality rate.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1987

Functional abilities after stroke: measurement, natural history and prognosis.

Actual functional performance of 976 acute stroke patients was assessed using the Barthel index: the data were analysed to determine the frequency of disability after stroke, the validity of the Barthel index, and the recovery seen. At 6 months, over 45% of survivors were functionally independent. Validity of the Barthel index was confirmed: it related as expected with motor loss and factor analysis showed a single major factor. The items of the Barthel index form an hierarchical scale. There was some recovery between 3 weeks and 6 months in almost all patients: the major prognostic factors were urinary incontinence, functional ability, sitting balance and age.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1987

Arm function after stroke: measurement and recovery over the first three months.

Four short, simple measures of arm function, suitable for use with patients recovering from acute stroke, are described. These tests are: the Frenchay Arm Test, the Nine Hole Peg Test, finger tapping rate and grip strength. Good interobserver and test-retest reliability was demonstrated for all tests, and the Frenchay Arm Test was shown to be valid. Normal values for all tests were established on 63 controls. It was found that the limited sensitivity of the Frenchay Arm Test could be improved using the Nine Hole Peg Test and grip strength. Recovery of arm function has been studied in a sample of 56 patients seen regularly over the first 3 months after their stroke, using these standard measures. The results demonstrated a wide variation in recovery curves between patients. The use of the Nine Hole Peg Test enabled further recovery to be detected after patients achieved a top score on the Frenchay Arm Test. Failure to recover measureable grip strength before 24 days was associated with absence of useful arm function at three months. Measurement of finger tapping rate was not useful.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Epidemiology of some neurological diseases with special reference to work load on the NHS.

This paper reviews evidence relating to the incidence, prevalence, and likely workload upon the NHS in relation to neurological diseases, particularly those causing long-term disability. Three studies suggest that a population of 250,000 people will contain about 5000 people with disabling neurological disease, of whom 1500 will be sufficiently disabled to require daily assistance. The review highlights the scarcity of reliable information concerning the epidemiology of neurological diseases and their disabilities, and emphasizes the need to plan neurological services at the level of the district general hospital serving a population of 250,000 people.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed1987

Aphasia after stroke: a detailed study of recovery in the first 3 months.

This is a prospective study of recovery of aphasia in 19 stroke patients selected from 117 consecutive hospital admissions by virtue of having significant aphasia and surviving 13 weeks. Aphasia was measured using the Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test (FAST) at frequent intervals from early after stroke. A wide variation in speed and extent of recovery was seen, particularly when compared with mean scores. Patients who made the most recovery had started to improve by 40 days post-stroke. An aphasic patient's FAST score at 13 weeks post-stroke could be predicted from his first score (within 2 weeks).

Adult↗

PubMed1987

The Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test: a short, simple test for aphasia appropriate for non-specialists.

This paper describes preliminary studies on a screening test for aphasia which takes 3-10 minutes to complete and which is suitable for use by general practitioners, junior medical staff and other non-specialists. Data are presented to show that it is a reliable, valid assessment. Using cut-off values derived from normal people, the test is sensitive, but its specificity is limited by such associated factors as hemianopia. Using cut-off values derived from patients known to have aphasia, its specificity is improved. An abnormal result needs to be interpreted in the light of all available clinical information. The test should help identify patients with linguistic disturbance.

Aphasia↗

PubMed1986

Effects of living with and looking after survivors of a stroke.

Information from a two year, longitudinal study on a community sample of patients with acute stroke was analysed to determine the effects of the stroke on the mood of the chief carer (the person living with the patient). Increased anxiety was the most commonly reported change six months after stroke. Significant depression was seen in 11-13% of carers over the first two years after stroke. The patient's functional disability was associated with depression in the carer over the first year but not at two years. A perceived poor recovery by the patient, a low level of general activities by the patient, and depression in the patient were also associated with depression in the carer within the first year. At two years after stroke none of the measured factors were related to a carer's level of depression. Carers of patients who have suffered stroke showed anxiety and emotional distress unrelated to the patient's physical disability after two years. More help from stroke support groups for carers is perhaps needed.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗

PubMed1986

Aphasia after stroke: natural history and associated deficits.

Data relating to 976 patients registered as suffering an acute stroke has been analysed to determine the natural history of speech disturbance: these patients came from a community survey of 215,000 people over a 28 month period. Of the 545 patients assessed within 7 days of stroke, 24% were aphasic and 28% unassessable. At 3 weeks, when over 90% of survivors were tested, 20% of those tested had aphasia. At 6 months only 12% of survivors had significant aphasia, but 44% of patients and 57% of carers thought speech was abnormal. Of those aphasic within 7 days, 40% remained so at 6 months; 60% of those aphasic at 3 weeks remained so. There was a high correlation between early and late aphasia scores. Aphasia was associated with more severe disability (degree of limb weakness, loss of function, loss of IQ), and with a less good recovery of social activities, but did not cause any measurable increase in stress upon carers. In a Health District of 250,000 people, about 60 patients each year may be referred for speech therapy after an acute stroke.

Acute Disease↗