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Intrathecal Medication Administration in Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral Palsy

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Abstract

Administering medication directly into the intrathecal space, especially in the spinal canal, has continued to be of interest. A drug concentrated in this region of the nervous system should provide the most direct effect. The current administration of intrathecal baclofen has been used for this reason by means of a battery powered pump implant that is placed in the abdomen and an intrathecal catheter that is introduced into the intrathecal space within the spine. The pump is controlled with an external radiowave-mediated controller, and the pump reservoir is filled by direct injection through the overlying skin. The administration may be continuous or the pump can be programmed to have higher doses over a short time and utilize a flexible dosing regimen as desired. Rare potential side effects have been reported including infection, catheter malfunction, and weakness uncovered with reduction in spasticity. The treatment of intrathecal infusion of baclofen is widely beneficial in the management of movement disorders, severe spasticity, enhancement of range of motion, increase in motor function and mobility, alleviating discomfort, and aids in overall care whether used stand alone and/or in conjunction with common modalities of pharmacology agents, physical therapy, and orthopedic surgery for nonambulatory and ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nemours Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Julieanne P. Sees

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Freeman Miller

Authors
  1. Julieanne P. Sees
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  2. Freeman Miller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julieanne P. Sees .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Freeman Miller

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, USA

    Steven Bachrach

  3. Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Nancy Lennon

  4. Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, Programs in Physical Therapy, New York, NY, USA

    Margaret E. O'Neil

Section Editor information

  1. AI DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, USA

    Freeman Miller

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Sees, J.P., Miller, F. (2020). Intrathecal Medication Administration in Cerebral Palsy. In: Miller, F., Bachrach, S., Lennon, N., O'Neil, M.E. (eds) Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74558-9_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74558-9_45

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74557-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74558-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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