Publications by authors named "M Boltzmann"
Background: A reliable assessment of the functional abilities of patients after severe brain damage is crucial for valid prognostication and treatment decisions, but most clinical scales are of limited use among this specific group of patients.
Aim: The present study investigates the usefulness of the Early Functional Ability (EFA) scale, which determines the functional abilities of severely impaired patients.
Methods: Critically ill patients consecutively admitted to early neurological rehabilitation were screened for eligibility.
Background: Falls are highly frequent among neurological patients during rehabilitation and subsequent risk assessments are crucial to prevent falls.
Objective: This study aims to determine the predictive values of the Hessisch Oldendorf Risk of Falling Scale (HOSS, "Hessisch Oldendorfer Sturzrisiko Skala") for two timeframes: the first month of rehabilitation and from the second month to the end of rehabilitation.
Methods: Scale performances were assessed for 512 patients during inpatient neurological rehabilitation by calculating the sensitivity and the specificity.
The present study was aimed at examining thyroid hormones and other clinical factors to improve the accuracy of outcome prediction among critically ill patients undergoing early neurological rehabilitation. Patients consecutively admitted to an intensive or intermediate care unit were screened for eligibility. Serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were collected during the first three days after admission.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The present study intended to analyze the outcome of patients with severe brain injury one-year after discharge from early rehabilitation.
Methods: Early neurological rehabilitation patients admitted to intensive or intermediate care units and discharged between June 2018 and May 2020 were screened for eligibility. The level of consciousness was evaluated using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) upon admission and at discharge.
Background: Upper limb dysfunction is a frequent complication after stroke impairing outcome. Inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied over the contralesional hemisphere is supposed to enhance the positive effects of conventional rehabilitative treatment.
Objective: This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial investigated whether inhibitory rTMS as add-on to standard therapy improves upper limb spasticity.