NEUROLOGICAL-DISORDERS IN INSTITUTIONALIZED PATIENTS IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To define the spectrum and types of neurological disorders in patients residing in rehabilitation institutions in the eastern pro vince of Saudi Arabia (Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) ). Setting: Rehabilitation institutions in the Eastern Province, KSA. Patients and methods: All the residents in the four rehabilitation ins titutions in the Eastern Province, KSA were evaluated by a neurologist and pediatrician. Results: Six hundred and eight patients (352 males, 256 females) were seen: 244 (40.1%) were aged 13 years old or less; 3 21 (52.8%) were aged between 14 and 65 years and 43 (7.1%) were more t han 65 years. The main neurological disorders seen were cerebral palsy and epilepsy in 531 (87.3%) and 172 (28.3%) cases respectively. Disor ientation was encountered in 432 patients (79.4%) and behavioural prob lems in 255 (49.9%) in the form of hyperactivity(146 cases, 29%) and w ithdrawl (109 20.9%). Receptive and expressive dysphasia were observed in 307 (55.4%) and 300 (49.3%) patients respectively with some degree of overlap. Other disabilities included hearing loss in 348 (57.2%) a nd visual impairment in 327 (53.8%). Motor weakness was present in 306 patients (50.3%) in the form of quadriplegia (210), paraplegia (71), hemiplegia (15) and monoplegia (10). Conclusion: Neurological abnormal ities are common among residents of the four rehabilitation institutio ns in the study area. Identification and accurate quantitation of thes e and other abnormalities may prove useful in planning the type and sc ope of rehabilitation and other support services in such institutions.