Functional outcome following thalamic haemorrhage: relationship between motor and cognitive functions and ADL

Twenty-two patients with thalamic haemorrhage were examined to investigate the relationship between motor and cognitive function, and activities of daily living (ADL). Patients with unilateral spatial neglect had lower ADL scores on admission than patients without unilateral spatial neglect (Mean: 17.0 and 24.6, respectively; F = 4.38, df = 1, p < 0.05). Unilateral spatial neglect related to feeding, bowel control and transfer in Barthel index on admission. Patients with aphasia on admission had lower ADL at discharge than patients without aphasia on admission (Mean: 57.0 and 84.7, respectively; F = 7.70, df = 1, p < 0.05). Aphasia related to the bathing, toilet, stair climbing, dressing, and ambulation in Barthel index on discharge. There was a significant difference between the severity of paresis in upper and lower limb on admission and ADL at discharge. The two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference between severity of paresis in lower limb and ADL improvement. It can be suggested that the most important predictor of outcome was paresis in lower limb, and not aphasia or unilateral spatial neglect.