Meythaler et al. (2004)

USA

Case Series

N=35

Population: TBI=22, ABI=6, Stroke=7; Mean Age=31yr; Gender: Male=22, Female=13.

Intervention: Oral baclofen regimen beginning at 5 mg 3x/day increased per protocol to 80mg/day. Follow-up occurred between 1 and 3mo after initiation of oral baclofen.

Outcome Measure: Ashworth Rigidity Scale (ARS), Spasm Frequency Scale (SFS), Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTR).

1.       Mean dose was 57±26mg/day for all patients and 55 ± 28mg/day for patients with TBI.

2.       After treatment, extremity ARS (3.5±1.1 to 3.2±1.2, p=0.0003) and DTR scores (2.5±0.9 to 2.2±1.2, p=0.0274) decreased significantly.

3.       No significant changes in lower extremity spasm scores were observed.

4.       Patients with TBI saw a significant decrease in scores on the ARS (p=0.0044) and DTR (p=0.0003) but not on the SFS (p>0.05).

5.       Upper extremities showed no significant changes for tone, spasm frequency, or reflexes (p>0.05).