Efficacy of intrathecal baclofen delivery in the management of severe spasticity in upper motor neuron syndrome

Johan Swanik Rietman, J.H.B. Geertzen

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In the treatment of patients with severe spasticity, intrathecal administration of baclofen (ITB) was introduced in order to exert its effect directly at the receptor sites in the spinal cord, and have better therapeutic efficacy with smaller drug doses compared to oral antispasmodic medications. Apart from our own research in Groningen, a review is performed to present and discuss the efficacy of ITB in patients with spasticity and hypertonia as symptoms of the upper motor neuron syndromes. The majority of the ITB studies describe proven efficacy in the reduction of spasticity and spasms in short-term and long-term followup. Functional improvements in daily care, hygiene, pain, etc are described but not often with reliable and validated instruments. A few studies reported significant improvement in walking performance in ambulant patients. The studies that have been done on the efficacy of ITB in relation to quality of life (QOL) showed some evidence of improvement. Future research is needed on fine tuning in the ITB therapy using functional assessment instruments.
    Original languageUndefined
    Title of host publicationOperative Neuromodulation
    Place of PublicationVienna
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages205-211
    Number of pages7
    ISBN (Print)978-3-211-33078-4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2007

    Publication series

    NameActa Neurochir Supplementum
    PublisherSpringer Verlag
    Numberpart 3
    Volume97/1
    ISSN (Print)0065-1419

    Keywords

    • EWI-11209
    • IR-61959
    • BSS-Biomechatronics and rehabilitation technology
    • METIS-245741

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