Brain impalement by an angle metal bar.

The author reports the case of a 37-year-old right-handed man who was impaled in the head by an angle metal bar at a construction work site. Impalement injuries of the brain are rare, and their management is complex. The surgical treatment of the injury and the medical management of complications are described in detail.

Continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion delivered by a programmable pump for the treatment of severe spasticity following traumatic brain injury.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) delivered by a programmable pump for the chronic treatment of severe spasticity due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). Eight patients with severe spasticity following TBI, refractory to oral baclofen or who experienced intolerable side effects, were screened. The first five patients were enrolled in a research protocol that was approved by the Institutional Review Board for Human Research at Boston University Medical Center.

Continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion by a programmable pump in 131 consecutive patients with severe spasticity of spinal origin.

We began this study to determine the efficacy and safety of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) delivered by a programmable pump for the treatment of severe spasticity of spinal cord origin. One hundred fifty two patients with severe spasticity of spinal origin, refractory to oral baclofen, or who experienced intolerable side-effects were given a test dose of ITB. Only those who had a satisfactory response were considered to be appropriate for pump implantation.