Site of brain lesion and functional capacity in rehabilitated hemiplegics

Degree of motor impairment, some sensory qualities and self-care ADL were registered in 53 patients with hemisyndrome due to stroke in whom the brain lesion could be visualized by computerized tomography or by cerebral angiography. Central brain damage (internal capsule, basal ganglia, thalamus) resulted in significantly higher degree of motor impairment than neo-cortical damage, while the size of the damage apparently did not influence the motor-function. Self-care ADL was significantly associated with level of motor impairment. Moreover, significantly less final recovery of exteroception and kinesthesia was observed for lesions in the non-dominant than the dominant hemisphere. It is suggested that in patients found suited for admittance to rehabilitation wards visualization of the brain damage may be a useful adjunct when stating the goals for the rehabilitation process.