Intrathecal baclofen for spasticity and dystonia

Intrathecal baclofen for spasticity and dystonia in Casablanca

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Baclofen (Lioresal®) is a drug that was introduced in the late 1960s to treat spasticity. Likewise, the drug is commonly used to treat some cases of dystonia. Baclofen, released in the spinal cord around the brain and backbone, adds to the body's supply of GABA, a chemical neurotransmitter that relaxes muscle movement. The start of treatment with intrathecal baclofen involves surgically implanting a device that resembles a pacemaker in the abdomen. The pump is connected to a thin tube that runs along the side of the body to the back. The tube enters the spinal canal with a small needle.