Patients with hemi-spatial neglect are more prone to limb spasticity, but this does not prolong their hospital stay.

Objective: To determine whether stroke patients who suffer from hemi-spatial neglect tend to stay in hospital longer because they are prone to limb spasticity.

Design: Retrospective analysis of in-patient medical notes.

Setting: In-patient neuro-rehabilitation unit of a regional UK teaching hospital

Participants: All 106 patients admitted to the neuro-rehabilitation unit between 2008-2010 who had suffered a stroke, as confirmed by CT or MRI.

Intervention: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Statistical coincidence of hemi-spatial neglect and spasticity; Length of hospital stay.

Results: Chi-square analyses indicated that individuals with left neglect were nearly a third more likely to develop spasticity than those without neglect (87% vs. 57%), while nearly one half of those with left-sided spasticity showed neglect (44% vs. 13%). Individuals with neglect stayed in hospital 45 days

longer than those without neglect, but the presence/absence of spasticity did not affect length of stay.

Conclusions: The results provide the first statistical evidence that neglect and limb spasticity tend to co-occur post-stroke, though it is only the former that significantly prolongs stay. Diagnostic value aside, these results are important because they tell us that the treatment of neglect should not be overshadowed by efforts to reduce co-morbid spasticity. Despite its poor prognosis, hemi-spatial neglect continues to receive little targeted therapy in some units.