• Nancy A Murphy, Melanie C Nicole Irwin, and Charles Hoff.
• Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. Nancy.Murphy@hsc.utah.edu
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Dec 1;83(12):1721-5.

ObjectivesTo describe the efficacy of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy in the management of spasticity in young children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to identify risk factors for complications.DesignConsecutive case series of 25 implanted ITB delivery systems during a 48-month period.SettingPediatric specialty hospital and outpatient department.ParticipantsTwenty-three children (age range, 4.5-17.4y) with CP (spastic diplegia in 22%; spastic quadriplegia in 61%; mixed-type diplegia in 4%; mixed-type quadriplegia in 13%).InterventionIntrathecal baclofen therapy in children with cerebral palsy.Main Outcome MeasuresAshworth Scale scores before treatment and at 6 and 12 months after ITB therapy; frequency and nature of complications; and relation between patient characteristics and outcomes.ResultsAverage Ashworth scores +/- standard deviation decreased from 3.26+/-.73 to 2.34+/-.83 (PConclusionITB therapy effectively reduced spasticity in children with CP. However, complications necessitating explantation can occur. Further research is needed to identify criteria describing the ideal pediatric candidate for ITB.Copyright 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

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