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ABSTRACT
Purpose: To investigate the effects of intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) on health-related quality of life for children with cerebral palsy and neurological conditions.
Method: This study is part of a longitudinal, multicentre audit. The primary outcome measure, the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities, was completed at baseline, 6 and 12 months post ITB implant.
Results: Forty subjects with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions demonstrated significant improvement in aspects of health-related quality of life following ITB therapy, mean change 42.3 (SD 14.9) at baseline to 53.3 (SD 14.7) at 12 months (p< .001).
Conclusion: Evidence to demonstrate the utility of ITB in pediatric populations beyond spasticity and dystonia reduction is limited. Our findings suggest that ITB improves aspects of quality of life, comfort, and ease of caregiving in children with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the six national ITB centers and their clinician representatives as well as the Australian Paediatric Intrathecal Baclofen Research Group who developed the national database and collected data. We would also like to acknowledge the valuable input from Professor Adam Scheinberg and Dr Megan Thorley who reviewed the manuscript. We also gratefully acknowledge all the children and parents for their participation in this study.
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.