[Optimized therapy of spastic syndrome by combination intrathecal baclofen with botulinum toxin]

Abstract

Intrathecal administration of baclofen has proved to be an effective treatment of spasticity related to CNS damage. Especially patients with spinal spasticity due to traumatic spinal cord injury or transverse myelitis showed a dramatic reduction of spasticity and improvement of their Ashworth scores. The results are, however, often disappointing in patients with muscular hypertension of the extensor muscles, which is frequently found in patients with multiple sclerosis or cerebral hypoxia. In the latter, using intrathecal baclofen may be restricted by serious side effects. Botulinumtoxin A is widely used in patients with various forms of dystonia. It has also been studied in spastic disorders, where local injections were valuable in relieving focal spasticity in hemiparetic patients and in infantile cerebral palsy. It is used only cautiously in severe paraspasticity. The case reports of 4 patients with incomplete and complete paraparesis due to spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative pyramidal disorder, and cerebral hypoxia demonstrate that a combination of intrathecal baclofen and botulinumtoxin A can improve clinical benefits and reduce side effects.