Intrathecal Baclofen Infusion for the Treatment of Movement Disorders

Wendell Lake; Hamid Shah

doi:10.1016/j.nec.2018.12.002

Intrathecal Baclofen Infusion for the Treatment of Movement Disorders

Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2019 Apr;30(2):203-209. doi: 10.1016/j.nec.2018.12.002. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Authors

Wendell Lake¹, Hamid Shah²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue Box 8660, Madison, WI 53792, USA. Electronic address: lake@neurosurgery.wisc.edu.
² Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University, 1500 21st Avenue South, The Village at Vanderbilt, Suite 1506, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.

PMID: 30898271
DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2018.12.002

Abstract

Intrathecal baclofen infusion is an accepted treatment for spasticity. Evidence also exists for the treatment of secondary generalized dystonia with intrathecal baclofen infusion. Benefits include decreased tone, improved positioning, and decreased decubitus ulcers. Despite these benefits, there are significant complications that can occur with this therapy, including drug withdrawal, catheter infection, drug overdose, failure, and pump failure. In some cases, practitioners encourage a trial dose of intrathecal baclofen by injection or catheter infusion before pump implantation. To improve patient selection and outcomes many centers offering intrathecal baclofen therapy use a multidisciplinary team composed of physicians, surgeons, and physical therapists.

Keywords: Baclofen; Generalized dystonia; Intrathecal infusion; Secondary generalized dystonia; Spasticity.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Baclofen / administration & dosage
Baclofen / therapeutic use*
Humans
Injections, Spinal
Movement Disorders / drug therapy*
Muscle Relaxants, Central / administration & dosage
Muscle Relaxants, Central / therapeutic use*
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Muscle Relaxants, Central
Baclofen