title: Continual infusion of intrathecal baclofen (ITB): long-term effect on spasticity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spasticity is a disorder of muscular function causing muscular tightness or spasm which occurs when there is damage to the central nervous system whether it is of spinal cord or brain origin. This insult could be either pathological or traumatic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients had intrathecal Baclofen pumps implanted for severe spasticity. These patients either did not respond to or tolerate oral medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients showed significant improvement in their spasms following the procedure. Improvement was noted not only in spasticity, but also in pain, management of sleep disturbance, activities of daily living, indoor and outdoor mobility and behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of complications was acceptable, and generally were not life-threatening. Infection was the significant complication in two patients and this led to explantation of their pumps. Patient satisfaction was very high and was related to improvement in the quality of life for the patients.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthesia Department, Prince Sultan Cardiac Centre, Consultant Chronic Pain Management, Riyadh Military Hospital and Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. psccanaes@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Dhafir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al Khudhairi
authors.forename: Abdulrahman Shug'a
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aldin
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rababah
authors.forename: Mona Hafez
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Matthana
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pazdirek
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abdulsalam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013995:Time; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D001418:Baclofen