Outpatient Rehabilitation of a Patient with Functional Neurological Disorder Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a clinical syndrome characterized by abnormal involuntary movements and specific clinical features that are incongruent with known neurologic diseases. Clinical information is lacking on outpatient rehabilitation for patients with FND. CASE: A 28-year-old woman visited our hospital for gait disturbance. She had experienced an occupational accident 20 months earlier. Her injuries were relatively minor, but subsequently, she was unable to move her ankle voluntarily and began receiving workers’ compensation benefits. The patient had persistent gait disturbance and preferred to walk with an ankle–foot orthosis. However, at her first visit, her ankle could move while walking without her ankle brace. Nerve conduction studies showed no abnormalities. Shortly after receiving an explanation regarding the diagnosis of FND, the patient was able to move her ankle voluntarily; however, her gait disturbance was partially persistent. After outpatient rehabilitation, she was able to walk in different types of footwear without an ankle brace. Satisfied with the result, she agreed to end rehabilitation and her access to workers’ compensation. DISCUSSION: After diagnosis and rehabilitation for FND following an occupational injury, our patient was eventually able to walk without an ankle brace. In this case, providing the patient with information regarding a diagnosis of FND and obtaining her informed consent for subsequent rehabilitation may have helped to improve the symptoms of FND.