FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES AND PREDICTORS OF RECOVERY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING INPATIENT REHABILITATION AT RASHID IBN AL-HUSSEIN MILITARY HOSPITAL

Background: Inpatient rehabilitation plays a pivotal role in restoring function and independence in patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputation, and major orthopedic surgery. Understanding functional outcomes and predictors of recovery in a military hospital setting is essential for optimizing rehabilitation protocols, resource allocation, and discharge planning. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive data on rehabilitation outcomes in Jordanian military hospitals.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional outcomes and the factors that predict recovery in patients who have been admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Rashid Ibn Al-Hussein Military Hospital.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rashid Ibn Al-Hussein Military Hospital, Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan, over 2 years (January 2024–January 2026). We reviewed medical records of 250 adult patients (≥18 years) admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit with a primary diagnosis of stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, lower limb amputation, or major orthopedic surgery. Data included demographics, diagnosis, comorbidities, baseline Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores at admission, duration of rehabilitation stay, intensity of therapy, complications during rehabilitation, discharge disposition, and FIM scores at discharge. The primary outcome was the change in total FIM score from admission to discharge (functional gain). Secondary outcomes included FIM efficiency and discharge destination.
Results: Among 250 patients (mean age 62.8 ± 14.2 years, 58.4% male), the most common diagnoses were stroke (42.4%), major orthopedic surgery (24.4%), spinal cord injury (14.8%), traumatic brain injury (10.8%), and amputation (7.6%). Mean rehabilitation length of stay was 28.4 ± 14.6 days. The mean total FIM score improved significantly from admission (62.4 ± 18.6) to discharge (92.8 ± 16.4), representing a mean functional gain of 30.4 ± 14.2 points (p<0.001). FIM efficiency was 1.1 ± 0.6 points/day. Favorable discharge disposition (home) was achieved in 68.4% of patients. On multivariate linear regression, independent predictors of greater functional gain included higher admission FIM score (β=0.42, p<0.001), longer rehabilitation stay (β=0.28, p=0.002), higher therapy intensity (β=0.24, p=0.008), diagnosis of orthopedic condition (β=0.22, p=0.012), and absence of pressure ulcers (β=0.19, p=0.024). Older age (β=-0.18, p=0.032) and presence of diabetes (β=-0.16, p=0.048) were negative predictors. On multivariate logistic regression, independent predictors of home discharge included higher discharge FIM score (OR=1.08 per point, 95% CI: 1.04–1.12), younger age (OR=0.96 per year, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99), absence of cognitive impairment (OR=2.84, 95% CI: 1.48–5.45), and absence of pressure ulcers (OR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.32–4.96).
Conclusion: Inpatient rehabilitation at Rashid Ibn Al-Hussein Military Hospital results in significant functional gains across all diagnostic categories. Higher admission FIM score, longer rehabilitation stay, and higher therapy intensity are independent predictors of better functional outcomes. The findings support continued investment in intensive inpatient rehabilitation services and emphasize the importance of early intervention and prevention of complications to optimize recovery and discharge outcomes.