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Oral baclofen in children with cerebral palsy: A double‐blind cross‐over pilot study
Author(s) -
Scheinberg Adam,
Hall Kate,
Lam Lawrence T,
O’Flaherty Stephen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00957.x
Subject(s) - medicine , baclofen , spasticity , cerebral palsy , placebo , spastic cerebral palsy , physical therapy , spastic , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gross motor function classification system , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology , agonist
Aim: To assess the effectiveness of oral baclofen in reducing spasticity and improving function in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: A double‐blind, randomised cross‐over pilot study of oral baclofen versus placebo. Assessment tools included the Goal Attainment Scale, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, Modified Tardieu Scale and parent questionnaire. Results: Fifteen children with mean age 7.4 years (SD = 2.7 years) and spastic or spastic/dystonic quadriplegia (Gross Motor Function Classification System Level IV or V) were enrolled. Children scored significantly better on the Goal Attainment Scale with baclofen compared with placebo ( F (1,13) = 4.5, P = 0.05). There was no significant difference between baclofen and placebo for the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory or Modified Tardieu Scale. Parent questionnaire results are described. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates that oral baclofen has an effect beyond placebo in improving goal‐oriented tasks, such as transfers, in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.