Setting: Long-term acute care hospital located in Wallingford, Connecticut, USA.
Participants: A 61 year old male admitted for physical and occupational therapy rehabilitation following intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for COVID-19 related GBS. The patient gave his written approval for the creation of this case report.
Interventions: Individual occupational and physical therapy sessions, occupational and physical therapy co-treatment sessions, and targeted group therapy sessions focused on leg, arm, and fine motor coordination exercises.
Main Outcome Measures: Manual muscle testing, range-of-motion, grip-strength, Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care, and St. Louis University Mental Status Exam.
Results: Despite the unforeseen complication of a distal right fibula fracture, the patient was successfully discharged directly home 56 days after LTACH admission. The patient discharged with clinically improved ambulation, strength, self-care, and cognition.
Conclusions: This unique case highlights the complex and significant rehabilitation needs a patient may require to regain independence after a diagnosis of COVID-19 associated GBS.
Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Learning Objectives:
Define Guillain-Barre Syndrome and its characteristics signs and symptoms.
List the occupational and physical therapy rehabilitation strategies for improving the symmetrical progressive-ascending weakness, areflexia, sensory loss, and diminished ability for self-care typically associated with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Infer how these or similar strategies could be used at their home institution for similar cases.
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