The impact of intrathecal baclofen on the ability to walk: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an effective treatment for lower limb spasticity. In ambulatory patients with spasticity, there is a justifiable concern that ITB treatment may compromise ambulatory function by reducing the heightened muscle tone, thereby unmasking underlying muscle weakness. ITB is hence offered with reservation in ambulant patients. In this article, we review the literature surrounding the effect of ITB therapy on ambulatory function in patients with concurrent spasticity and discuss the key findings.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search of ProQuest Medline and EBSCO CINAHL databases was performed.

REVIEW METHOD

Inclusion criteria included (a) studies reporting the effect of ITB in adult ambulatory patients; (b) studies with an intervention of screening test trial via either bolus injections or continuous infusion tests; and (c) studies with an intervention of ITB pump implantation. Seventeen eligible studies were identified and two authors independently assessed the study quality using the risk of bias in nonrandomised studies of interventions tool (ROBINS-I).

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included, with a total of 534 participants. Most of the patients remain ambulatory after ITB treatment, accompanied by improvements in gait speed and reduction in spasticity.

CONCLUSION

ITB therapy when administered in carefully selected ambulatory patients with spasticity is not associated with loss of ambulatory function.