Pumping Away Cerebral Palsy -- Research Summary

MORE ABOUT SPASTICITY: Spasticity is described as tight, stiff muscles or spasms that may make movement, posture, and balance difficult. It may affect your ability to move one or more of your limbs, or to move one side of your body. Sometimes spasticity is so severe that it gets in the way of daily activities. It is caused by damage or injury to the part of the central nervous system (the brain or spinal cord) that controls voluntary movement. That damage disrupts important signals between the nervous system and muscles, creating an imbalance that increases muscle activity or spasms. (SOURCE: www.medtronic.com)

SEVERE SPASTICITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CONDITIONS: •Brain injury
•Cerebral palsy
•Multiple sclerosis
•Spinal cord injury
•Stroke

SYMPTOMS OF SPASTICITY:•Increased muscle tone
•Overactive reflexes
•Involuntary movements, which may include spasms
•Pain
•Decreased functional abilities and delayed motor development
•Abnormal posture
•Permanent contraction of the muscle and tendon due to severe persistent stiffness and spasms
•Bone and joint deformities

ITB THERAPY (BACLOFEN PUMP): Medtronic ITB Therapy, also called the baclofen pump, is an adjustable, reversible treatment for severe spasticity. A surgically placed pump and catheter deliver liquid baclofen directly to the fluid around the spinal cord, where it’s needed most. Because Lioresal Intrathecal is delivered directly to where it’s needed most in the spinal fluid, it relieves spasticity with smaller amounts of medication than when baclofen is taken orally. This method of delivery may help minimize side effects that can result from oral baclofen. People who suffer from severe spasticity resulting from cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury may be a candidate for ITB Therapy. (SOURCE: www.medtronic.com)

For more information on the SynchroMed II Programmable Pump by Medtronic, please visit: http://www.medtronic.com/patients/severe-spasticity/therapy/itb-therapy/synchromed-ii-pump/index.htm MORE

Pumping Away Cerebral Palsy -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information

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