Rehabilitation needs after haemorrhagic brain injury: are they similar to those after traumatic brain injury?

Abstract

A retrospective survey of 78 patients with spontaneous haemorrhagic brain injury admitted to a regional neurorehabilitation centre over a three-year period is described. Residual neuropsychological impairments and the need for assistance in activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed. Little difference was found in terms of impairment or extent of disability between the 53 subarachnoid haemorrhage and 25 intracerebral haemorrhage survivors who comprised the study population. This population is compared to the findings in traumatically brain-injured patients managed in the same unit. Although there were some neuropsychological differences between the two groups, these were not reflected in the degree of dependence in ADL, which was remarkably similar. The length of stay for haemorrhagic brain injury patients on the unit was longer than that of the head injured. Haemorrhagic brain injury therefore, represents a major demand on rehabilitation services and similar provisions should be made for them as are advocated for the traumatically brain injured.

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