Hilla Ben-Pazi, Gila Ben-Shimol, Ruth David, Adi Aran and Natali Dechtiar
Baclofen, a GABA-B agonist, reduces hypertonia by increasing spinal inhibition and improves motor function in functional children with cerebral palsy. We hypothesized that oral baclofen reduces pain and improves daily care in nonfunctional children with spastic cerebral palsy. To test this children residing in nursery homes with hypertonia causing pain or interfering with daily care were enrolled in this randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study. Participants were examined before, during and after 13 weeks of baclofen (2 mg/kg/day) and placebo for pain (Brief Pain Inventory and Dalhousie Pain Survey), ease of care (care and comfort questionnaire) and overall treatment assessment (specific questionnaire, designed for this study). Two participants completed this pilot (ages 7 and 8 years). Pain was reported to interfere less on peak dose of baclofen treatment compared to placebo in one child (p=0.0001) and care tended to be easier in the other (p=0.05). Blinded caregivers recommended continuing baclofen. No significant side effects were reported. Baclofen, an inexpensive safe medication, may alleviate pain in nonfunctional spastic children.
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Journal of Pediatric Neurology and Medicine received 68 citations as per Google Scholar report
