Educational career and predictors of type of education in young adults with spina bifida.

Children with spina bifida (SB) often require special education. To date, little information is available about the educational career of these children. This study focuses on educational career and predictors of attending special education of young adults with SB, using a cross-sectional study including 178 young Dutch adults with SB aged from 16-25.

Cognitive status of young adults with spina bifida.

The cognitive status of 168 Dutch young adults (103 females, 65 males; mean age 20 years 9 months, age range 16 to 25 years) with spina bifida (SB) was examined. The main purpose was to establish the effect of the type of SB (occulta or aperta) and the effect of hydrocephalus (HC) within the group with SB aperta (AHC+). Results indicated, on average, a lower cognitive status of persons with AHC+ (n=111) than of persons with SB occulta (n=37) and of persons with SB aperta without HC (AHC-; n=20).

Assessment of oedema in stroke patients: comparison of visual inspection by therapists and volumetric assessment.

Purpose: To examine the agreement of assessment of hand oedema in stroke patients by clinical judgement and by use of a hand volumeter.

Method: A total of 88 rehabilitation patients with stroke received both assessments. Experienced physical therapists classified oedema as 'none', 'minor' or 'severe'.

Probability of regaining dexterity in the flaccid upper limb: impact of severity of paresis and time since onset in acute stroke.

Background And Purpose: To improve the accuracy of early postonset prediction of motor recovery in the flaccid hemiplegic arm, the effects of change in motor function over time on the accuracy of prediction were evaluated, and a prediction model for the probability of regaining dexterity at 6 months was developed.

Methods: In 102 stroke patients, dexterity and paresis were measured with the Action Research Arm Test, Motricity Index, and Fugl-Meyer motor evaluation. For model development, 23 candidate determinants were selected.

Adapting the Nottingham Health Profile for use in people with severe physical disabilities.

Background: The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) is a well-known quality of life questionnaire. However, wheelchair-bound patients might obtain misleading scores on the scales Physical mobility, Pain and Emotional reactions. We tested three possible adaptations of the Dutch NHP to overcome this problem.

Return to work after spinal cord injury.

Objective: To describe predictors of return to work after spinal cord injury (SCI), in particular the physical intensity of the pre-injury job.

Study Design: Survey.

Setting: Patients' home.

Quadriceps strength and timed motor performances in myotonic dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and healthy subjects.

Background And Purpose: The leading hypothesis was that a relation exists between muscular strength and functional abilities. Therefore a study was undertaken to quantify such a relationship in a population of subjects with different muscular strengths. This population consisted of healthy subjects and subjects with slowly progressive neuromuscular disorders.