Bandolier - Intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity
Health service purchasers are often faced with the problem of making decisions in the absence of evidence on benefit and cost. Evidence is most often lacking in rare but severe conditions, and in early applications of new technology. The example of intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity [1] shows that even in these difficult circumstances sufficient evidence may be garnered to inform decision-making.
Intrathecal baclofen needs to be used on a continuous basis. This involves not just demonstrating that it is effective in the individual patient, but complex neurosurgery to implant a continuous infusion device delivering baclofen to the head, or cord, or both. The device needs to be refilled several times a year, and the operation re-done every five or six years when batteries need replacing.
Systematic review
This set out to gather several different types of information. Information on benefits of continuous intrathecal baclofen was sought through a literature search (to end 1999) using four electronic databases, including the Cochrane Library. Any type of study was eligible, if patients had one of five conditions (cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, hypoxic brain injury, traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury). Studies had to describe some functional benefit, like bedbound patients being able to sit in a wheelchair, or improved ability to perform activities of daily living, or reduction in spasm-related pain. In all the included trials patients had to have severe disabling spasticity refractory to oral medicines, and in addition they must have shown a response to a bolus dose of baclofen.
A separate search was for economic analyses or cost studies. Cost information identified from the literature was supplemented by semi-structured interviews with clinicians. Quality of life was estimated from the evidence review, supported by clinical opinion. Three simplified scenarios were used, which concentrated on mobility and pain as the criteria most likely to be affected. The scenarios were:
1 Bed-bound patients with severe spasm-related pain
2 Bed-bound patients not in pain
3 Wheelchair users with moderate spasm-related pain.
Results
There were 17 studies published between 1985 and 1997, with information on between 7 and 70 patients. Follow up was between about six months and six years. A summary of the outcomes is in Table 1.
Quality of life improvement estimates were 0.27 for a bedbound patient not in pain, to 0.5 for a bed-bound patient experiencing severe spasm-related pain. The cost was estimated at about 12,000 [pounds sterling] for assessment, test dose and implantation procedure, with follow up costs of up to 1,200 [pounds sterling] a year for refills. Over five years, the total discounted cost was 15,400. [pounds sterling] The cost per quality adjusted life year ranged from 6,900 [pounds sterling] to 12,790 [pounds sterling] for the three scenarios (Table 2).
Comment
The authors are justifiably cautious, but their conclusion was that intrathecal baclofen produces functional benefits and is likely to be an appropriate use of resources in carefully selected patients. They specified that patients had to have severe disabling spasticity refractory to oral medicines, and have shown a response to a bolus dose of baclofen. Methods employed included systematic searches for evidence of effectiveness and cost, backed up with sound clinical opinion, and restricted to a particular scenario. The process results in a reasonable quantification of cost/benefit, which we can compare with other things we purchase. The benefits and costs are still estimates, though. They can be modified as more evidence emerges on benefit, on cost, or, crucually, on the quality of life improvements obtained.
References:
(1) FC Sampson et al. Functional benefits and cost/benefit analysis of continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion for the management of severe spasticity. Journal of Neurosurgery 2002 96: 105201057.
Table 1: Outcomes after intrathecal baclofen for severe spasticity
Number benefiting/total Percent
Outcome with complaint benefiting
Improved ease of nursing care 83/90 92
Bedridden patients able to sit 50/76 66
in a wheelchair
Reduction in spasm-related pain 55/62 89
Improved ability to perform ADL 45/62 73
Ambulatory patients improving 18/45 40
ability to walk
Improved ability to sit 31/36 86
comfortably in a wheelchair
Wheelchair bound becoming 4/36 11
ambulatory (assisted)
Improved ability to transfer 25/26 96
Improved skin integrity 19/23 83
Improved wheelchair mobility 13/18 72
Table 2: Cost/QALY estimates
Scenario Cost/QALY ([pounds sterling])
Bed-bound patients experiencing 6,900
severe spasm-related pain
Bed-bound patients not in pain 12,790
Wheelchair users with moderate 8,030
spasm-related pain
COPYRIGHT 2002 Bandolier Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning
