Severe anaemia: implications for functional recovery during rehabilitation

Purpose : This case report examines the hospital course and functional reco very of a geriatric patient with severe anaemia undergoing rehabilitation f ollowing total hip replacement. It serves to highlight the need for further study of the impact of anaemia on recovery in the rehabilitation setting a s well as the importance of developing clinical guidelines for the appropri ate medical management of anaemia in this patient population. Method: Single case report. Results : The course of recovery during rehabilitation in a geriatric patie nt with sever post-operative anaemia was notably different from other geria tric patients undergoing rehabilitation following total hip replacement. Th e patient demonstrated a markedly reduced tolerance for therapies and prolo nged length of stay, but did not experience cardiopulmonary complications d uring intensive rehabilitation. Her hematocrit responded nicely to treatmen t with human recombinant erythropoietin. Despite a prolonged recovery perio d, the patient ultimately progressed well and achieved a good functional ou tcome. Conclusions : The impact of anaemia on functional recovery in the acute inp atient rehabilitation setting as well as the theoretical risk of increased morbidity and mortality during prescribed therapeutic exercise has not been closely examined in the literature. Further study is indicated to examine the implications for anaemia on functional recovery and cardiopulmonary com plications during rehabilitation. General guidelines should be developed fo r the management of anaemia in the rehabilitation setting.