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Intrathecal baclofen in the treatment of spasticity

  • Chapter
Operative Neuromodulation

Part of the book series: Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements ((NEUROCHIRURGICA,volume 97/1))

Summary

Spasticity is a disorder of the sensorimotor system resulting in velocity-dependent increased muscle tone and tendon reflexes. Intrathecal baclofen is currently the most effective means of treating diffuse abnormal spasticity of both cerebral and spinal origin in the adult and pediatric patient. Careful patient assessment, selection and continued therapies are essential to a successful intrathecal baclofen management program.

Once a patient receives a baclofen pump, close monitoring is needed for dose adjustment and pump problems. Baclofen overdose and withdrawal by either system failure or human error can cause significant side effects and be life threatening. Excellent understanding of the baclofen delivery system, programming and dose effects are needed to evaluate any patient complaints.

Future uses of intrathecal pump therapy includes use of other intrathecal drugs besides baclofen (or in combination with baclofen) and the effects of placing the catheter tip at various spinal levels.

At the University of Minnesota, Sister Kenny Institute and Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare our experience has shown excellent results with this form of therapy over the last 12–16 years.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street S.E., MMC 297, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Dennis Dykstra, M. Stuckey & L. DesLauriers

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sister Kenny Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    D. Chappuis

  3. Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

    L. Krach

Authors
  1. Dennis Dykstra
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  2. M. Stuckey
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  3. L. DesLauriers
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  4. D. Chappuis
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  5. L. Krach
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis Dykstra .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Damianos E. Sakas

  2. University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK

    Brian A. Simpson

  3. Pacific Pain Treatment Centers, San Francisco, USA

    Elliot S. Krames

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Dykstra, D., Stuckey, M., DesLauriers, L., Chappuis, D., Krach, L. (2007). Intrathecal baclofen in the treatment of spasticity. In: Sakas, D.E., Simpson, B.A., Krames, E.S. (eds) Operative Neuromodulation. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements, vol 97/1. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-33079-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-33079-1_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-33078-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-211-33079-1

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