Article

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability in the United States,
with a reported prevalence of 6.4 million people. Spasticity is one of the
clinical features of the upper motor neuron syndrome seen after a stroke. The
prevalence of spasticity after a stroke ranges from 17% to 42.6%, and an average
of two-thirds of people with spasticity have upper and lower extremity
involvement. Oral medications and botulinum neurotoxin injections are current
treatments for problematic spasticity. However, these treatments are often
limited by side effects or dose ceilings. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is a proven
method for the management of disabling spasticity from multiple etiologies.
Studies have demonstrated improved mobility, activities of daily living, and
quality of life in spastic poststroke patients. Despite the benefits of ITB,
fewer than 1% of stroke patients with severe disabling spasticity are being
treated with ITB. This article will review the prevalence of severe poststroke
spasticity and the rate of ITB use and will discuss reasons for its limited use
in stroke survivors.

Langue : ANGLAIS