Treatment of Spasticity with Baclofen Pump Implantation: A Clinical Prospective Study.

Abstract

Background Data : The use of an implantable infusion pump for the treatment of spasticity is to provide the patient with lower dose that the patient is taking at the present time, and this small dose will be given in a steady fashion in the form of drip irrigation. The drip irrigation is through a small plastic catheter and in minute amounts continuously. Objective : to assess the efficiency of Baclofen pump implantation in patients with spasticity. Methods : This is a clinical prospective study of 20 patients with an implanted device of Intra thecal Infusion pump to treat cerebral and spinal spasticity (12 male age from 12 to 72 years, 8 female age from7 to 60 years) operated in the department of neurosurgery, Neurosciences hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, from October 2011 to December 2012.We evaluated the Presenting symptoms and sings before the operation and measured the outcome postoperatively. Results : The incidence of complications in ITB surgeries was 15% (3 of 20 patients) all of them were male. Satisfactory results was 90% (18 patients of 20), more obvious in pediatric age group (improvement in spasticity’s scale the postoperative complications were recorded are early emptiness of the infusion pump (withdrawal symptoms) The most common drawback that the patient had been seen in our practice is unavailability of the in our institutes nor in the private sectors and it is very expensive indeed and made a burden on their family. Conclusions : ITB is an excellent method of treating spastic CP generalized secondary dystonic CP, and patients with spinal cause of Spasticity (trauma, multiple sclerosis), with few complications.