Intrathecal baclofen for severe torsion dystonia in a child.

The successful use of intrathecal baclofen, a structural analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid, is described in the treatment of a 9-year-old boy with intractable torsion dystonia, not responding to conservative treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of continuous intrathecal baclofen for hereditary torsion dystonia. This case suggests that a continuous intrathecal infusion of baclofen may facilitate remission of intractable torsion dystonia, and provides a basis for further investigation of the treatment of intractable childhood dystonia.