Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB)

Intrathecal baclofen is a treatment used for children who have conditions that cause spasticity and dystonia.  For example children with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries and some metabolic or neurodegenerative disorders can all suffer from spasticity or dystonia.  Spasticity and dystonia are both conditions where the muscles are tighter than they should be.  Baclofen is a medicine that tells the muscles to relax.  Intrathecal baclofen is baclofen that is given in the space around the spinal cord.  This is done through a permanent surgically implanted pump that is placed in the abdomen with a tube that goes to the spinal cord.

Before your child's Rehabilitation Specialist will decide if intrathecal baclofen is right for your child, many specialists will meet with you and your child and perform detailed assessments. Your child may be seen by a physiotherapist,  an occupational therapist, a social worker, the Movement Disorders Coordinator, an orthopaedic surgeon and a neurosurgeon.    Before deciding who should have intrathecal baclofen treatment many factors need to be considered. 

Links to handouts

ITB Pumps Fact Sheet:  Intrathecal Baclofen Pumps fact sheet

ITB school handout:  ITB school info

Links to ITB pump alarms

What do I do if we hear the intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump beeping?

The pump alarms are divided into either a critical alarm (two tone) or non-critical alarm (single tone).

Your rehabilitation specialist will demonstrate these alarms to you, prior to your child’s discharge, or click on the links below to listen to a demonstration.

If you hear the critical alarm you must bring your child to hospital immediately, or if it is not safe to do so, then call an ambulance.

If you hear the non-critical alarm, during office hours you should contact the Paediatric Rehabilitation team as soon as possible on 8161 7367. If it is after hours, please call the Hospital Switchboard on 8161 7000 and ask them to contact the On-Call Paediatric Rehabilitation Consultant.

Critical alarm:  Alarm Critical

Non-critical alarm:  Alarm Non-Critical

Links to websites

Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne Fact Sheets  :  factsheets

Medtronic: www.medtronic.com

Novita Children's Services: Default

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