Deep venous thrombosis associated with use of intrathecal baclofen pump in chronic spinal cord injury: A report of two cases [Kronik spinal kord yaralanmasında İntratekal baklofen pompası kullanımı İle İlişkili derin ven trombozu: İki vaka sunumu]

By providing a direct and selective effect at the spinal cord level,intrathecal baclofen is used for the treatment of spasticity of spinal or cerebral origin,which is not alleviated with oral antispastic drugs. besides its potent effect,it may result in several adverse events. the most common complications associated with intrathecal baclofen pump include mechanical problems with the device,procedure-related complications and drug side effects. we present two cases of deep venous thrombosis in patients with chronic spinal cord injury treated with long-term intrathecal baclofen pump for recurrent spasticity. deep venous thrombosis was secondary to hypotonia that developed after increasing dose of baclofen released by the pump. clinicians should be alerted for risk of deep venous thrombosis in patients with spinal cord injury receiving intrathecal baclofen. in the period of intrathecal baclofen dose changes,deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis may be considered for these patients even in chronic period of spinal cord injury. © 2014,ege university press. all rights reserved.