[Intensive rehabilitation after apoplexy--a controlled pilot study]

In a prospective, randomized, controlled trial we compared the clinical outcome for 65 acute stroke patients where 31 were treated in a stroke unit and 34 in general medical units. In the stroke unit the treatment principles of Bobath were used, and teamwork was essential in the treatment. The inclusion period was nine months. Patients were followed up at a control six months after hospital discharge. The two groups were comparable as concerned age, sex, number of patients > or = 75 years and functional impairment at hospital admission. The mortality was similar in the two groups of patients. Significantly fewer patients from the stroke unit group were referred to nursing homes, when the patients in function group five (those most severely ill) were excluded. The functional status at the six months post discharge control was similar in the two groups. The in-patient time was without significant difference between the two groups when patients referred to nursing homes were excluded. The need for primary nursing after discharge was similar in the two groups. We conclude from our pilot study that better organisation in a general medical ward would in some aspects improve the prognosis of a major proportion of stroke patients.