Baclofen Pump Implant

About Baclofen Pump Implant

A baclofen pump implant is a surgically placed device that delivers the muscle relaxant baclofen directly into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord, known as the intrathecal space, to treat severe spasticity, a condition of excessive muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions that can result from cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, or brain injury. Because the medication is delivered directly at the spinal level rather than through the bloodstream, it can achieve effective symptom control at a much lower dose than oral baclofen, which reduces the drowsiness and other systemic side effects that often limit oral treatment. Before permanent implantation, patients typically undergo a trial dose of baclofen delivered through a temporary spinal injection to confirm that this approach will meaningfully improve their spasticity. The permanent pump, a small refillable reservoir with a programmable delivery mechanism, is implanted under the skin of the abdomen and connected to a thin catheter that threads into the intrathecal space around the spinal cord. The pump requires periodic refilling and dose adjustment at follow-up visits. India's rehabilitation and neurosurgery centres offer both the trial assessment and the implantation procedure for appropriately selected patients.