Rehabilitation outcome in children after treatment of primary brain tumor

Functional outcome studies after treatment of primary brain tumors in children are lacking. This study of 30 children, ages 3 to 20 years (x 10.8 yrs) was aimed at documenting the effects of rehabilitation on functional outcome after treatment of primary brain tumors. Functional measurements were documented by a modified functional independence measure for children (WeeFIM). The paired t-test, Wilcoxon test, χ² analysis, and Friedman test were used to assess significance of data. Statistically significant improvements were documented from admission to discharge, and discharge to follow-up in total WeeFIM scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0001) and specifically in the subgroups of self care, mobility, and locomotion. Though no significant improvement was noted in sphincter control from admission to discharge (p = 0.15), significant gains were seen at follow-up (p = 0.006). Borderline improvements at discharge in communication (p = 0.054) and social cognition (p = 0.051) became significant at follow-up (p = 0.01 and p = 0.004). At admission, 7 patients (23%) were independent in self care, 5 (17%) in mobility and 1 (3%) in locomotion compared with 18 (60%), 20 (67%), and 15 (50%) respectively at discharge. At follow-up there was further improvement with 95% independent in self care, 100% in mobility and 70% in locomotion. This study affirms the beneficial effect of comprehensive rehabilitation on functional outcome in children with residual disabilities after treatment of their primary brain tumors.