Dynamics of postural control in Parkinson patients with and without symptoms of freezing of gait.

Background: It has been suggested that dynamical measures such as sample entropy may be more appropriate than conventional measures when analyzing time series data such as postural sway. We evaluated conventional and dynamical measures of postural sway in Parkinson disease (PD) patients with and without freezing episodes.

Methods: COP (center of pressure) data were recorded during quiet standing with eyes open, eyes closed and while performing a dual task.

Diagnosis and decision making for patients with disorders of consciousness: a survey among family members.

Objectives: To examine the perceptions of family members of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) in regard to the patients' level of consciousness, communicative status, and prognosis as compared with the objective medical categories, and to elicit the family members' self-reported practice of treatment decision-making.

Design: Cross-sectional semiquantitative survey.

Setting: Five specialized neurologic rehabilitation facilities.

Long-term health-related quality-of-life in patients with acquired brain injury and their caregivers.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess long-term health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and potential predictors as well as burden in caregivers of patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). Furthermore, depressive symptoms, well-being, HRQoL and happiness were evaluated in caregivers and patients who had regained communication skills.

Research Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey.

Rehabilitation outcome of patients with severe and prolonged disorders of consciousness after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

Objectives: Our objectives were to evaluate rehabilitation outcome of aSAH survivors with severe disorders of consciousness (DOC) and to examine potential predictors of long-term outcome. Severe DOC includes patients in a vegetative state (VS) and in a minimally conscious state (MCS).

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective single-center cohort study of consecutive aSAH patients with severe and prolonged DOC upon admission to neurorehabilitation.

Rehabilitation outcome of anoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy survivors with prolonged disorders of consciousness.

Objectives: To examine the natural clinical course of patients admitted to inpatient neurorehabilitation in a coma, vegetative state (VS), or minimally conscious state (MCS) after anoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (AIE).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 113 consecutive patients admitted to a German inpatient neurorehabilitation centre with severe disorders of consciousness (DOC) following AIE due to cardiac arrest over a 6-year period. Functional independence was measured with the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and recovery of consciousness with the Coma Remission Scale (CRS).

Rehabilitation outcome of unconscious traumatic brain injury patients.

Outcome prediction of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with severe disorders of consciousness (DOC) at the end of their time in an intensive care setting is important for clinical decision making and counseling of relatives, and constitutes a major challenge. Even the question of what constitutes an improved outcome is controversially discussed. We have conducted a retrospective cohort study for the rehabilitation dynamics and outcome of TBI patients with DOC.