HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN THERAPY - IMPLICATIONS FOR SPINAL-CORD INJURY PATIENTS WITH INTRATHECAL BACLOFEN INFUSION PUMPS - CASE-REPORT

A patient with a cervical spinal cord injury receiving intrathecal bac lofen for spasticity control underwent a 7 week course of hyperbaric o xygen therapy to induce healing of an ischial decubitus ulcer. After c ompletion of this treatment and during a routine baclofen infusion pum p refill, the actual pump reservoir volume exceeded computer measureme nts obtained with telemetry. Examination of the physiology of hyperbar ic oxygen therapy in relation to infusion pump function revealed that the intraspinal pressures attained during hyperbaric oxygen therapy pr oduced retrograde leakage of cerebrospinal fluid into the infusion pum p reservoir.