title: Rehabilitation outcome in children after treatment of primary brain tumor.
abstract: Functional outcome studies after treatment of primary brain tumors in children are lacking. This study of 30 children, ages 3 to 20 years (x 10.8 yrs) was aimed at documenting the effects of rehabilitation on functional outcome after treatment of primary brain tumors. Functional measurements were documented by a modified functional independence measure for children (WeeFIM). The paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, chi 2 analysis, and Friedman test were used to assess significance of data. Statistically significant improvements were documented from admission to discharge, and discharge to follow-up in total WeeFIM scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0001) and specifically in the subgroups of self care, mobility, and locomotion. Though no significant improvement was noted in sphincter control from admission to discharge (p = 0.15), significant gains were seen at follow-up (p = 0.006). Borderline improvements at discharge in communication (p = 0.054) and social cognition (p = 0.051) became significant at follow-up (p = 0.01 and p = 0.004). At admission, 7 patients (23%) were independent in self care, 5 (17%) in mobility and 1 (3%) in locomotion compared with 18 (60%), 20 (67%), and 15 (50%) respectively at discharge. At follow-up there was further improvement with 95% independent in self care, 100% in mobility and 70% in locomotion. This study affirms the beneficial effect of comprehensive rehabilitation on functional outcome in children with residual disabilities after treatment of their primary brain tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ayyangar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanderbilt
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gaebler-Spira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome