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Improvement in walking speed in poststroke spastic hemiplegia after intrathecal baclofen therapy: a preliminary study
Gerard E Francisco1, Corwin Boake
1Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Alliance, Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. francg@tirr.tmc.edu
Objective:
To explore whether intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy improves ambulation in stroke survivors.
Design:
Case series.
Setting:
Tertiary care center.
Participants:
Ten adults with poststroke hemiparesis who were ambulatory at the time of pump implantation.
Interventions:
Implantation of ITB pump after inadequate control of spasticity with other interventions. Time from stroke onset to implantation averaged 28.6 months (range, 9-55mo).
Main Outcome Measures:
Customary walking speed was measured from the time required to walk 50ft (15m) at a self-selected pace. Evaluators rated spastic hypertonia and functional mobility.
Results:
Statistically significant improvements occurred in walking speed, functional mobility ratings, and spasticity (P<.05) at a follow-up interval that averaged 8.9 months. Mean walking speed over 50ft improved from 36.6 to 52cm/s. Mean Modified Ashworth Scale scores in the muscles of the affected lower limb improved from 2.0 to 0.4. Normal muscle strength (5/5) was preserved in the unaffected limbs.
Conclusions:
This preliminary study suggests that ITB therapy, in combination with physical therapy, may improve walking speed and functional mobility in ambulatory individuals with poststroke spastic hemiplegia.