About Brain Injury
Without question, a brain injury can change your life instantly. It may affect how you think, how you feel, how you behave, how you move, and what you remember. In some cases, innovative technology from Medtronic can help manage the tight, stiff muscles or severe spasticity that may result from brain injury.
Definition of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is an injury caused to the brain since birth.1
One example of acquired brain injury is traumatic brain injury.
Definition of Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury is defined as a blow to the head, or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.2
Traumatic brain injury can range from levels that are mild (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury).2
Causes of Acquired Brain Injury
Causes of acquired brain injury can include, but are not limited to:1
- Stroke
- Brain tumor
- Encephalitis
- Brain hemorrhage
- Traumatic brain injury
Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
The leading causes of brain injury are:3
- Falls
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Being struck or striking a hard object
- Assaults
- Blasts (a leading cause of traumatic brain injury for active duty military personnel in war zones)
About Spasticity due to Brain Injury
Spasticity is caused by damage or injury to the part of the central nervous system (the brain or spinal cord) that controls voluntary movement. This damage disrupts important signals between the nervous system and muscles, creating an imbalance that increases muscle activity or spasms.
Spasticity can make one's movement, posture, and balance difficult. It may affect your ability to move one or more of your limbs, or to move one side of your body. Sometimes spasticity is so severe that it gets in the way of daily activities, sleep patterns, and caregiving. In certain situations, this loss of control can be dangerous for the individual.
References
- Other Forms of Acquired Brain Injury. Headway. https://www.headway.org.uk/Other-forms-of-acquired-brain-injury.aspx. Accessed October 15, 2012.
- Traumatic Brain Injury. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury. Accessed November 20, 2012.
- What Are the Leading Causes of TBI? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/causes.html. Accessed October 15, 2012.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ON ITB THERAPY
Please follow your doctor's instruction closely because a sudden stop of intrathecal baclofen therapy can result in serious illness (baclofen withdrawal symptoms) such as high fever, changed mental status, muscle rigidity, and in rare cases multiple organ-system failure and death. It is very important that your doctor be called right away if you experience any of the above symptoms.
It is important for you to keep your scheduled refill visits so you don't run out of medication (baclofen) and to understand the early symptoms of baclofen withdrawal. Some patients are at more risk than others for baclofen withdrawal; consult with your doctor.
People who suffer from severe spasticity resulting from cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury may be a candidate for ITB Therapy. If you have spasticity due to spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis you must first fail oral baclofen. If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury you must first wait 1 year after the injury to be considered for ITB Therapy. A screening test will help show if you will respond to the intrathecal baclofen. You should not receive ITB Therapy if you have an infection, are allergic to baclofen, or your body size is too small to hold the implantable pump.
The implanted pump and catheter are surgically placed beneath the skin. Surgical complications that you may experience include infection, meningitis, spinal fluid leak, paralysis, headache, swelling, bleeding, and bruising.
The most common and/or serious drug-related side effects of ITB Therapy include loose muscles, sleepiness, upset stomach, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. Pump failure may cause overdose or underdose of intrathecal baclofen. The signs and symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, lightheadedness, dizziness, respiratory depression (difficulty breathing), hypothermia, seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma. Once the infusion system is implanted, device complications include catheter or pump moving within the body or eroding through the skin. The catheter could leak, tear, kink, or become disconnected, resulting in underdose or no baclofen infusion. Symptoms of underdose include increase or return in spasticity, itching, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and tingling sensation. These symptoms are often early indications of baclofen withdrawal. The pump could stop because the battery has run out or because of component failure. The pump will sound an alarm when the pump needs to be filled with baclofen, replaced or if there is a problem with the pump. Always inform any healthcare personnel that you have an implanted infusion system before any medical or diagnostic procedure such as MRI or diathermy.
For more information, please read the Lioresal® Intrathecal (baclofen injection) Full Prescribing Information and the SynchroMed Infusion System Information.
This therapy is not for everyone. Please contact your doctor. A prescription is required.
Lioresal® is a registered trademark of Medtronic, Inc.
USA Rx Only Rev 0911
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.
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