Evaluation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Consultations Requested for Inpatients in a University Hospital

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the consultations requested from the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) with regard to socio-demographic characteristics, clinics of the patients, reasons for consultation, diagnoses and given treatment. Material and Methods: The study included patients who were hospitalized between January 1 and December 31, 2017 and who were asked for a PM&R consultation. Consultation forms were scanned retrospectively and examination findings and evaluations were recorded. Results: The study included 235 patients who were hospitalized in 13 different clinics. Of the patients, 128 (54.5%) were women and 107 (45.5%) were men. The mean age of the patients was 62 (range: 0-94) years. The departments that most frequently requested PM&R consultation were neurology (48.5%), internal medicine (11.1%), chest diseases (10.6%). The reasons for consultation were cerebrovascular disease (51.5%), walking disorder (13.6%), low back pain (12.2%), knee pain (9.8%), neck pain (6.5%), other causes (3.5%) and respiratory system problems (2.9%), respectively. 23.8% of patients who had PM&R consultation had no history of any additional disease, 40.9% had hypertension, 7.7% had asthma, 6.8% had hypertension and diabetes mellitus and 5.5%.had only diabetes mellitus. As a result of consultations, the most diagnosed disease groups were neurological diseases (59.5%) and musculoskeletal disorders (37%). On the other hand, exercise after consultations 47.6% of the patients were treated only with therapeutic therapy, 31.4% with exercise and medical treatment, 25.5% with exercise and conventional physical therapy, 9.3% with medical and physical therapy and 8% were applied all three treatment modalities. Conclusion: This study shows that all departments are in contact with the PM&R clinic, PM&R consultation is needed especially due to neurological diseases and musculoskeletal pathologies, and also emphasizes the value of consultation requests and the importance of interdepartmental cooperation.