Many stroke survivors live with disabilities in the community. This study aimed to investigate the causes and trends of disabilities among community-dwelling stroke survivors. A total of 1547 community-dwelling stroke survivors ≥ 19 years were identified using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) database from 2007 to 2018. We analyzed the causes and trends of disabilities in strokes survivors using complex-samples procedures. During 2007–2018, 38.0% of stroke survivors were found to have disabilities. Stroke itself was the most common cause of disabilities (21.3%). Musculoskeletal (back or neck problems, 7.0%; arthritis, 5.7%; and leg pain excluding arthritis, 2.3%), sensory (visual problems, 3.6%; and auditory problems, 1.4%), and medical problems (diabetes 2.6%; hypertension, 2.3%; heart disease, 1.5%) accounted for the rest of the other causes of disabilities. Upon analyzing the trends, we found that both the proportion of stroke survivors with disabilities and that of stroke survivors with stroke-related disabilities decreased from KNHANES IV (2007–2009) to V (2010–2012). After 2010–2012, the proportion of both groups stayed constant. The burden of disabilities in non-hospitalized stroke survivors has decreased but still remains high. Attention is warranted because many other problems than a stroke can cause disabilities in community-dwelling stroke survivors.

Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) accounts for 1% to 4% of DVT cases. Brachial plexus injury can result from venous distention due to thrombosis in the upper extremity, leading to neurologic deficits. We report a patient diagnosed with brachial plexopathy caused by venous thrombosis in the upper extremity. A 66-year-old female patient with a medical history of Parkinson disease and dementia presented to the emergency department with drowsy mental status. She was diagnosed with pre-renal acute kidney injury with multi-organ dysfunction. On the second hospital day, right upper extremity edema and muscle weakness were observed. On the sixth hospital day, the patient’s overall medical condition improved after conservative treatment, but severe edema was noticed, and muscle weakness did not show significant improvement in the right upper extremity. Computed tomography showed multifocal pulmonary thromboembolism and DVT in the pulmonary arteries, superior vena cava, and popliteal veins. After anticoagulant administration, the swelling subsided, but the weakness in the entire right upper extremity did not improve. Electromyography demonstrated right brachial pan-plexopathy involving the upper, middle, and lower trunks. A follow-up examination showed no significant improvement of muscle strength and function in the right upper extremity at 3 months after the first hospital day.