Investigation and comparison of the effects of rehabilitation on balance and coordination problems in patients with posterior fossa and cerebellopontine angle tumours.
BACKGROUND
This study was planned to investigate and compare the effects of acute rehabilitation programme on balance and coordination problems in patients with posterior fossa and cerebellopontine angle tumours.


METHODS
This study was carried out at Hacettepe University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, neurosurgical rehabilitation unit on 40 patients whose ages varied between 18-60 years. Subjects were subdivided into two groups. Group I consisted of 20 patients with posterior fossa tumour, while the group II was composed of 20 patients with cerebellopontine angle tumour. Patients were evaluated according to the localisation of the tumour, the number of the surgical operations, the level of the surgical excision of the tumour, percent of having shunt, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Balance problems were assessed according to Mokken's functional independence assessment scale in 5 selected positions and standing balance was also evaluated according to the method of Bohannon. The rehabilitation of the patients included balance and coordination training. The patients were re-evaluated before their discharge and the results of the two evaluations were compared.


RESULTS
A significant improvement was found in the second group when pre- and post-treatment evaluations were compared. There were more coordination problems in group 1 in the pretreatment period. Both groups showed significant improvement of coordination problems after the treatment. However, this improvement was more obvious in the second group (p<0.05). There was a negative significant correlation between the decrease of balance problems and the amount of the tumour excided (I Group r=-0.51, II Group r=-0.57).


CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that rehabilitation approaches are effective in balance and coordination problems observed in both tumour groups, but the responses to treatment are more obvious in the cerebellopontine angle tumours, which have better prognosis.
Karakaya
M
M
School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Neurosurgery Unit, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Köse
N
N
Otman
S
S
Ozgen
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D002530:Cerebellopontine Angle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015192:Infratentorial Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology