Abstract
A patient with neurofibromatosis type 2 was seen for acute care physical therapy treatment post spinal tumor resection. The patient was seen 5 times during his 8-day hospital stay in the intensive care unit and acute care unit with 1 follow-up visit after admission in the inpatient rehabilitation department. Treatment was provided by a student physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated during the initial encounter with the Manual Muscle Test, Modified Functional Reach Test, Head Impulse Test, Function in Sitting Test, Activity Measure Post-Acute Care “6-clicks”, and a plan of care was established with short and long term goals addressing physical therapy needs. Patient and therapist goals included: stimulate cognition, improve strength, limits of stability, sitting balance and functional mobility, adherence to a hospital exercise program, and re-enrolling in university. Main interventions used were early mobility, task-specific training of functional activities and vestibular rehabilitation. The patient improved strength, limits of stability, sitting balance and functional mobility. The patient was discharged to inpatient rehabilitation to maximize his recovery of safe functional mobility and independence.