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.

Design: Retrospective case notes review.

Setting: Regional neurological rehabilitation unit. Subjects: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with acquired brain injury.

Main measures: 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.

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