A Case Report of Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy with Infusion Pump Implantation into the Antero-medial Thigh

Abstract

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy is used to treat patients with spasticity. The pump that delivers baclofen to the intrathecal space of the thoracolumbar spine is generally implanted under the skin or fascia of the anterolateral abdomen. Here we present a case in which the pump was implanted in an alternative site, under the skin of the anteromedial thigh. The patient was a 61-year-old man who was 148 cm tall. He had spastic paraplegia (ASIA Impairment Scale grade B) caused by severe scoliosis related to dystrophic neurofibromatosis. No safety space for pump implantation existed in his abdomen because of a stoma, scars, and adhesions that resulted from surgeries for ileus and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The catheter ran from the lumbar spine to the anteromedial thigh via the point between the iliac crest and the great trochanter. The catheter and pump caused no trouble over 1 year of follow-up. This case demonstrates that the thigh can be an alternative site for ITB pump implantation in some patients with abdominal wall problems. This surgical modification may not be indicated for some patients with ambulators or frequent hip motion, who are at risk of catheter problems or pump migration.