title: Early medical rehabilitation after neurosurgical treatment of malignant brain tumours in Slovenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of patients with malignant brain tumours is on the rise, but due to the novel treatment methods the survival rates are higher. Despite increased survival the consequences of tumour properties and treatment can have a significant negative effect on the patients' quality of life. Providing timely and appropriate rehabilitation interventions is an important aspect of patient treatment and should be started immediately after surgery. The most important goal of rehabilitation is to prevent complications that could have a negative effect on the patients' ability to function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By using individually tailored early rehabilitation it is often possible to achieve the patients' independence in mobility as well as in performing daily tasks before leaving the hospital. A more precise evaluation of the patients' functional state after completing additional oncologic therapy should be performed to stratify the patients who should be directed to complex rehabilitation treatment. The chances of a good functional outcome in patients with malignant brain tumours could be increased with good early medical rehabilitation treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Rehabilitation Unit, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.affiliation: Zdravstveni dom dr. Julija Polca Kamnik, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benedicic
keywords: early rehabilitation; malignant brain tumour; surgery