Age, gender and risk factor disparities in first-stroke Jewish and Arab patients in Israel undergoing rehabilitation.

Background: Little is known of the risk factor disparities in first stroke among Jewish and Arab patients undergoing rehabilitation in Israel.

Objectives: To investigate the age, gender and risk factor disparities in first stroke among Jewish (immigrant and non-immigrant) and Arab patients undergoing rehabilitation and to compare the prevalence and odds ratio of stroke risk factors in these patients.

Methods: The database of the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation C at Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center was used to investigate first ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients admitted for hospital rehabilitation over a 15 year period, January 1993 to December 2008.

Rehabilitation outcomes in patients with brain tumors and acute stroke: comparative study of inpatient rehabilitation.

Objectives: To investigate functional outcomes after hospital rehabilitation of patients surviving craniotomy for primary brain tumor excision compared with post-stroke patients.

Design: The database of the Neurological Rehabilitation Department "C" of Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center was used to investigate primary brain tumors and first ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients admitted for hospital rehabilitation during an 11-yr period, between January 1993 and August 2004. Particular attention was paid to age and sex distribution, onset-to-admission interval, length of stay, functional status at admission and discharge, functional gain (DeltaFI change) as measured by the FIM instrument.

Post-stroke follow-up in a rehabilitation center outpatient clinic.

Background: Follow-up examinations in a rehabilitation center clinic after stroke are essential for coordinating post-acute services and monitoring patient progress. Of first-stroke patients discharged from our rehabilitation ward to the community 92% are invited for ambulatory check-up once every 6 months.

Objectives: To review patient complaints at follow-up and the recommendations issued by the attending physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at the outpatient clinic.

A new instrument for outcome assessment in rehabilitation medicine: Spinal cord injury ability realization measurement index.

Objectives: To introduce a new measure of disability weighted for the neurologic deficit in patients with spinal cord lesions and to examine the effect on the instrument of being in rehabilitation.

Design: Development of instrument and preliminary comparative before-after study.

Setting: Spinal department in a rehabilitation hospital in Israel.