Baclofen and Botulinum Toxin A Use in Tone Management for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Review of Current Literature and Research Gaps in Pre- and Perioperative Care

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a leading cause of motor disability in children. Many children with CP have hypertonia, and some will require orthopedic surgery. Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A), a muscle relaxant, is commonly pre- or perioperatively injected to improve surgical outcomes and reduce postoperative pain and muscle tone. However, inconsistent evidence supporting its efficacy, potential research bias from industry sponsorship, and numerous adverse effects, such as long-term changes to muscle morphology, highlight the need for a better alternative. Preoperatively increasing the dose of oral baclofen, a first-line treatment for generalized CP-related hypertonia, may improve surgical outcomes with fewer long-term adverse effects. To date, the impact of an increased oral baclofen dose for this purpose has not yet been studied. This article reviews the current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of the three more commonly used antispastic treatments, BoNT-A, oral baclofen, and intrathecal baclofen, with the goal of trialing increased oral baclofen dose as an adjunct to surgery.