Variables affecting functional improvement in chordoma patients admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility: A retrospective review

Study Design: Retrospective chart review of patients after surgical resection of chordoma admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics associated with improving two or more functional levels and therefore classifying as a substantial responder after an inpatient rehabilitation facility stay in post-resection chordoma patients.

Setting: Acute inpatient rehabilitation facility in the United States.

Methods: A total of 40 patients were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility from 2010–2015 after chordoma resection. Demographics, tumor management information, lengths of stay and functional independence measures on admission and discharge were collected. Substantial responders were identified as individuals who improved two or more functional levels based on total FIM score change. Logistic regression was used to analyze the available data for association of quantitative and categorical variables with being a substantial responder.

Results: The categorical variables analyzed in this study (sex, readmission to an acute hospital, Charlson Comorbidity Index, tumor level, nerve sacrifice, recurrent tumor and metatases) were not associated with being a substantial responder. The quantitative variables age and length of stay at the inpatient rehabilitation facility were individually associated with being a substantial responder, while length of stay at the acute hospital was not.

Conclusions: Patients who were younger were more likely to be classified as substantial responders. Patients with longer lengths of stay at the inpatient rehabilitation facility were also more likely to be classified as substantial responders.