Five-Year Retrospective Cohort Study of Changes in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of Children and Youth Parameters in Cerebral Palsy Children and Adolescents With Continuous Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy Versus Control Group.

Abstract

This study aims to compare the long-term results of continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy rehabilitation against those of conventional treatment for intractable spasticity in children with cerebral palsy using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of Children and Youth. This is a 5-yr single-center retrospective cohort study. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of Children and Youth data from 24 patients with cerebral palsy of Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV-V (aged between 8 and 18 yrs) were retrospectively analyzed for 5 yrs. The results show different trends between the 12 patients who received continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy and the 12 who were excluded because of contraindications.The continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy group improved spasticity, pain, and body mass index z-scores over 12 mos and during the 5-yr follow-up with a continuous simple Baclofen administration at a maximum of 140 μg/d at a concentration of 2000 μg/mL. Continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy improves structure and function, autonomy, and participation in both short and long term. Overall, the continuous intrathecal baclofen therapy group, with its characteristics of initially greater pain and hypertonia, benefited significantly from the efficacy of intrathecal Baclofen treatment compared with the control group, which continued to receive conventional treatment.The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of Children and Youth outcome measures demonstrated an interrelationship between spasticity and weakness and disease progression over childhood to adolescence.Follow-up will be vital for effective personalized treatment, quality of life, and research.Long-term International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of Children and Youth data collection is key to comparing treatment outcomes.