Treatment of spasticity in a spinal cord-injured patient with intrathecal morphine due to intrathecal baclofen tolerance |[ndash]| a case report and review of literature

doi:doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101471

Spinal Cord (2003) 41, 586–589. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101471

Treatment of spasticity in a spinal cord-injured patient with intrathecal morphine due to intrathecal baclofen tolerance – a case report and review of literature

B M Soni¹, R M Mani¹, T Oo¹ and S Vaidyanathan¹

¹Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, Southport, UK

Correspondence: Mr BM Soni, Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport District General Hospital, Southport PR8 6PN, UK

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Abstract

Study design: Case report.

Objective: To report treatment of spasticity in a spinal cord-injured person with intrathecal morphine after the person developed tolerance to intrathecal baclofen.

Method: Spasticity in a 36-year-old man with T6 complete paraplegia was treated with increasing doses of intrathecal baclofen. When he developed tolerance to intrathecal baclofen, he was given continuous infusion of morphine intrathecally.

Setting: Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, UK.

Results: Spasticity was adequately controlled by intrathecal morphine.

Conclusion: In spinal cord-injured patients with severe spasticity, who become tolerant to intrathecal baclofen, treatment with intrathecal morphine may be useful.