Early detection of non-ambulatory survivors six months after stroke

The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively early predictors for ambulation and motor outcome 6~months after stroke occurrence. Sixty-eight consecutive, first-ever, stroke survivors were prospectively studied from the second week to the sixth month post stroke. Sex, age, stroke type, urinary incontinence, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Trunk Control Test (TCT) scores were taken as independent variables. Gait ability and motor functional outcome at 6 months post-stroke were assessed. Age, sex, urinary incontinence, TCT and NIHSS were significantly related to final modified Rankin Scale (mRS), motor portion of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Age and early TCT alone accounted for 61.1% of the variance in the motor FIM rating (at 6 months post-stroke). TCT<or= 50 on day 14 predicts non-independent walkers (Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) < 4): sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 85.7%), OR: 30.0, 95% CI: 4.7-247.3. In conclusion, early administered TCT predicts independent walking ability and motor functional outcome at six months post-stroke.