If physical and occupational therapy do not adequately control the spasticity, medications may be added to the treatment plan. Common medications used to treat spasticity include baclofen and diazepam. These medications can be used to treat spasticity by causing the nerves to relax so they are not sending a message to the muscles to contract. Botulinum toxin type A can also be injected locally into the affected area to relax the muscles. Rhizotomy and tendon release are two surgical procedures used to treat spasticity when other treatment methods fail.
Rhizotomy involves surgically cutting away part of the spinal nerve.
It is performed to relieve pain or decrease muscle tension. An alternative surgical treatment is the implanted baclofen pump, which delivers medication directly into the spinal cord. Tendon release, also called a tenotomy, may be performed to help reduce the frequency or magnitude of the spasticity, depending on the age of the patient. The surgery involves cutting severely contracted tendons away from the muscles to which they're attached. Tendon release may need to be repeated.