Outcome of intensive rehabilitation after severe brain injury: a long-term follow-up study.

Fifty-five brain-injured adults (of 64 discharged) were followed up from 19 to 101 months after discharge from a rehabilitation unit. Change was assessed in terms of discharge and current placement, as compared with pre-admission placement. The results demonstrate that rehabilitation achieved improvements in functional skills and social behaviour that lastingly affected the type of placement possible, and thus improved quality of life. In most cases where improvements were seen during rehabilitation, further improvements occurred after discharge. The findings also have implications for the timing of rehabilitation and for discharge and resettlement planning.