Intrathecal therapy is an advanced technique for individuals with chronic severe pain or spasticity, a condition in which muscles become tense or spasm. This therapy makes use of an implanted pump and catheter system and propels the medication through the catheter to administer the agent to the intrathecal space in the spinal cord.

Once in the intrathecal space, the agent has more direct access to neural structures where they can exert a therapeutic effect with fewer side effects. The full spectrum of intrathecal agents are provided including baclofen, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, bupivacaine and ziconotide. The main indications for intrathecal baclofen therapy are:

• Spasticity or pain that is poorly controlled despite maximal therapy with other modalities
• Spasticity or pain that is poorly controlled because of poor patient tolerance of other modalities
• Spasticity or pain reduction that benefits from the precise control that the intrathecal delivery system affords
• Administration of therapeutic agents that are only effective via the intrathecal route of delivery

Program Focus

Intrathecal baclofen therapy can help patients with the following neurologic diagnoses:

• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal cord disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Transverse myelitis
• Cerebral palsy
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury

Intrathecal therapy for pain control can help patients with the following diagnoses:

• Chronic low back pain
• Neuropathic pain
• Chronic regional pain syndrome/reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Spinal cord injury pain
• Central post stroke pain
• Cancer pain

Special Program Features

Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation is one of the largest providers of intrathecal therapy in the Delaware Valley. Our center has the capacity to provide all aspects of intrathecal therapy onsite including:

• Physician evaluation, inpatient and outpatient
• Physical and occupational therapy evaluations, inpatient and outpatient
• Intrathecal trialing, single bolus and continuous
• Pump implantation
• Pump interrogation, adjustments and refills
• Diagnostic troubleshooting
  • Catheter dye studies
  • Nuclear medicine scanning
  • MRI scanning
  • Electrodiagnostic studies
• Gait analysis and motor control analysis laboratory

For additional Jefferson program information, call 1-800-CALL MOSS (1-800-225-5667)