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Practice Management/Leadership

Impact of Distance from Treatment Center on Intrathecal Baclofen Complication Rate at a Single Treatment Center

Thursday, October 23, 2025
12:45 PM - 2:15 PM MT
Location: Original Research Theater

    Poster Presenter(s)

  • Jacqueline Hogan, MD

    Resident
    Arnot Health
    Glens Falls, New York

    • Co-Author(s)

  • RJ

    Roshen John, Other

    Medical Student
    SUNY Upstate Medical Center
    New Hyde Park, New York

  • Morgan E. Caselli, MD

    Resident Physician
    State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University PM&R Program
    Syracuse, New York

  • CW

    Claudine Ward, MD

    Associate Professor, Associate Program Director
    SUNY Upstate Medical University
    Syracuse, New York

  • MT

    Margaret A. Turk, MD

    SUNY Distinguished Service Professor; Vice-Chair PMR
    State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University PM&R Program
    Syracuse, New York

Disclosure(s):
Jacqueline Hogan, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Morgan E. Caselli, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Background and/or Objectives: To determine if distance from the treatment center increases the complication rate of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps.

Design: Retrospective, case-control study.

Setting : Upstate University Hospital, outpatient Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Clinic

Participants : 89 subjects met inclusion criteria for the study, all of which had been treated at Upstate University Hospital for ITB pump management, with at least one pump placed between 2013 to 2024. Subjects had an average age of 41.5 at time of review, with an average of 1.6 ITB pumps placed since 2013.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Complications after ITB pump placement were recorded by searching for key terms in the electronic medical record (EMR) system, including spinal headache, CSF leak, infection, seroma, pump alarm, catheter kink, catheter migration, baclofen withdrawal, pump failure, etc. Distance from the treatment center was identified using the home address zip code listed in the EMR system, and distances were grouped by < 25 miles, 25-50 miles, 50-100 miles and >100 miles from the treatment center.

Results: There was no significant difference in complication rate among patients in different zip codes after a Chi-Square analysis was completed. The p-value was 0.518. When comparing patients within 25 miles to those farther than 25 miles, there was still no significant difference in complication rate (p=0.133).

Conclusions: Distance from treatment center was not associated with a significant increase in ITB pump complications. Providers should continue to offer ITB pumps as a treatment option for patients living in rural areas and counsel these patients on when and how to seek care for ITB pump related concerns.