Rehabilitation of Severe Strokes

Severe strokes often result in multiple disabilities and constitute not only the most disabled group of stroke patients but also the greatest rehabilitation challenge. On a per-person basis, severe stroke patients incur the greatest costs to the healthcare system, primarily due to increased length of stay in hospital and the frequent need for expensive long-term care or institutionalization (Navarrete-Navarro et al. 2003).

Research relating to the definition, classification, neuro-recovery and rehabilitation of severe strokes is provided in this review. Clinical evidence of various severe stroke rehabilitation models is discussed (including slow-stream, ICU, and specialized interdisciplinary stroke rehabilitation). As well, severe stroke rehabilitation ethical dialogue is presented.