Functional neurorehabilitation in locked-in syndrome following C0-C1 decompression

Today, thanks to intensive care treatment and modern diagnostic tools, increasingly more patients with severe brain and spinal cord lesions, mainly secondary to accidents, stroke, tumours, and congenital malformations survive the acute impact on the central nervous system (CNS). Complicated operative procedures and concomitant complication may also lead to severe impairment of the sensory motor and cognitive behavioural functioning as it can be described according to the WHO-ICF criteria. New developments of functional neurorehabilitation in neurosurgery can significantly improve patients' quality of life (QoL) in terms of both brain and body functioning and certain health-related components of well-being (such as social activities and leisure). Rehabilitation starts with assessment of the functional impairment and the underlying pathophysiology by using all modern diagnostic tools. Our concept of postoperative neurorehabilitation is exemplarily demonstrated in one patient who suffered from acute postoperative locked-in syndrome. Surgical decompression and fusion were required for post traumatic and recurrent congenital craniovertebral instability at C0-C1. Subsequent functional neurorehabilitation is based on careful planning in accordance with our concept of a holistic Spectrum of functional early Neurorehabilitation.