Abstract
Objective: To identify changes in weight for children receiving intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy for the treatment of spasticity.
Design: Retrospective medical chart review. Weights were obtained before and after ITB pump implantation.
Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.
Participants: 52 children < 20 years old at the time of data collection receiving ITB therapy for the treatment of cerebral origin spasticity for > 1 year.
Measures: Paired t-test compared pre and post-implantation weights. Analyses of covariance were run to compare differences in overall weight change as defined by variables of gender, diet, diagnosis, and ethnicity.
Results: A significant change in pre-implantation weight (M=26.77, SD=11.29) from post-implantation weight (M=32.11, SD=12.62) was noted. No significant weight change was noted among variables.
Conclusion: Study participants gained an average of 5.43 kg (SD=4.34) after receiving 1 year of ITB therapy.