title: Incontinence after brain injury: prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management on a neurological rehabilitation unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management of incontinence in patients with acquired brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case notes review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regional neurological rehabilitation unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with acquired brain injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bladder and bowel subscores of the Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure; number of multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty per cent of patients (n=112) had impaired bladder or bowel subscores on admission. Significant improvement was seen at discharge but 36% of patients (n=77) still had some degree of impairment. Over 90% of patients were set multidisciplinary goals addressing self-care (n=213) and mobility (n=205) but only 3.5% (n=8) were set multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incontinence was common in patients with brain injury on a neurological rehabilitation unit. Significant improvement was seen following rehabilitation. Bladder and bowel management was not well incorporated into the multidisciplinary management process.
authors.affiliation: Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Homerton University Hospital and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals, Queen Square, London, UK. siobhan.leary@uclh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cheesman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*