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Intrathecal baclofen and motor function in cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
MOTTA FRANCESCO,
ANTONELLO CLARA E,
STIGNANI CECILIA
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03904.x
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , baclofen , motor function , medicine , physical medicine and rehabilitation , intrathecal , anesthesia , neuroscience , psychology , agonist , receptor
Aim The aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine the impact of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy on motor function in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Method We studied 37 patients (18 males, 19 females) with CP treated with ITB (mean age at implant 13y 7mo, SD 7y). Eighteen patients were affected by spastic diplegia, 12 by spastic quadriplegia, six by dystonic quadriplegia, and one by hemidystonia. Nine participants were in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II, 13 in level III, seven in level IV, and eight in level V. Motor function was assessed by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) before the treatment and 12 months after the implant. Results The collected data showed an increase in the total median GMFM score in the overall population ( p <0.001) and in every GMFM dimension ( p <0.05) except for dimension D (standing). The analysis by degree of impairment revealed that patients with severe impairment and those with mild to moderate impairment improved the total median GMFM score ( p <0.001 and p <0.05 respectively). Analysis by age showed that the best improvements in GMFM scores were reached by patients younger than 18 years old ( p <0.05). Spasticity and dystonia, assessed by means of the Ashworth and Barry–Albright Dystonia scales, significantly decreased 12 months after the implant ( p <0.001 and p <0.05 respectively). Finally, a subjective questionnaire administered to patients/caregivers revealed an overall improvement in participants’ functional abilities. Interpretation The results suggest that ITB therapy is an effective treatment for managing spasticity and dystonia, and for improving motor function in children with CP.