Affiliations: Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura del Policlinico, Milan, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Giulia Gilardone, Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura del Policlinico, Via G. Dezza 48, Milan, 20144, Italy. Tel.: +39 0248593725; E-mail: g.gilardone@ccppdezza.it.
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to the work.
Abstract: PURPOSE: There is a general lack of evidence on the efficacy of rehabilitation training methods after childhood stroke. The aim of the current paper is to provide an example of a multidisciplinary assessment and intensive patient-centered rehabilitation program that was devised following the Clinical Guidelines for Childhood Stroke Diagnosis, Management and Rehabilitation, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. METHOD: The case of a 13-year-old teenager with physical, linguistic, cognitive and emotional impairments after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in left middle cerebral artery territories is presented and his neurorehabilitation program is described. RESULTS: After an intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation period, the patient showed significant improvement involving language abilities, cognitive flexibility, logical reasoning and motor independence. A 6-month post-stroke follow-up evaluation showed further gains in spontaneous language, improved motivation and collaboration, reduction of impulsiveness and better general motor stability. CONCLUSION: This case highlights how an intensive, patient-centered, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach can lead to good improvement across different domains, maximizing the spontaneous recovery in children and adolescents after AIS.
