FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE LIMB TRAUMA

A retrospective chart review was performed to assess the effects of ac ute care hospital-based rehabilitation in patients with multiple limb trauma on functional status and length of stay and to determine whethe r the distribution of limbs involved has any effect on these variables . Admission and discharge motor Function Independence Measure scores a nd length of stay were compared for all patients and the injury subgro ups. Significant functional gains were made between admission motor Fu nctional Independence Measure (45.4 +/- 11.9) and discharge motor Func tional Independence Measure (74.1 +/- 11.6; P < 0.05) for the group as a whole and across subgroups, with no significant differences between the subgroups. For all patients, the rehabilitation length of stay wa s 27.7 +/- 23.0, with again no difference noted between the subgroups. Individuals with functional deficits attributable to multiple limb tr auma benefit significantly from comprehensive intensive acute inpatien t rehabilitation. The distribution of limbs involved has little effect on functional outcome or length of stay.