Functional Outcomes in Anterior and Posterior Circulation Ischemic Strokes

Objective: To compare the demographic and some of the clinical characteristics, and functional outcomes of patients with anterior circulation (AC) infarction with posterior circulation (PC) infarction subtype of ischemic stroke patients after inpatient rehabilitation.Materials and Methods: Medical records of 245 patients diagnosed with stroke were retrospectively reviewed. The patients, who had AC or PC ischemic infarct, were divided into two subgroups. Demographic characteristics, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, and Functional Ambulation Scale (FAS) stages of the patients in both groups were recorded and compared.Results: One hundred eight patients’ infarcts were located in the AC territory and twenty two patients’ infarcts were located in the PC territory. Except the longer length of stay in AC stroke groups (p=0.022); there were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic and clinical characteristics (p>0.05). The comparison of the FIM scores revealed that the AC stroke group had significantly lower cognitive FIM scores at admission and discharge than the PC stroke group (p=0.016 and p=0.029, respectively). However; there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of motor FIM scores, gain FIM scores and FAS stages at admission and discharge (p>0.05).Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, although patients with AC infarction subtype of ischemic stroke had longer length of stay and lower cognitive FIM scores, there were no significant differences in functional outcomes between patients with AC and PC infarction subtype of ischemic stroke. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2013;59:13-7.