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Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy: The Right Treatment for Spastic Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy Treatments

mother and child with cerebral palsy walking in the park

By Lee Vander Loop
CP Family Network Editor

The surgical procedure known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) has gained considerable public attention within the cerebral palsy community. It is a neurosurgical procedure performed with the goal of improving motor function by decreasing spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Numerous news articles have published stories of children who have experienced life-altering benefits from SDR surgery, such as gaining the ability to walk after being confined to a wheelchair since birth.

What is Involved?

Spastic cerebral palsy, left untreated, can have a severe impact on a child’s development and can lead to serious musculoskeletal deformities. Spasticity is caused by abnormal nerve impulses traveling down the spinal cord. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy aims to correct this through neurosurgery at the spinal cord level.

During an SDR procedure, surgeons identify and cut selected dorsal nerve roots in the spinal cord that are responsible for abnormal movement in the lower extremities. These nerve roots are identified using electrical stimulation. Identifying the correct nerve roots is vital. If nerve roots coming into the spinal cord from the skin, bladder or bowel are cut, then the patient may develop numbness or bladder or bowel incontinence.

Just as every child’s level and severity of spasticity is unique, every child’s surgery is also unique. Some children may only need 10% of the designated nerves cut where another may require a higher percentage for positive results.

Eligibility

There are strict criteria used to determine a child’s eligibility for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. A multi-team assessment is made which typically includes a physiotherapist, a pediatrician and surgeons. The procedure is usually recommended for young children with CP spastic diplegia without dyskinesia or ataxia. Additionally, children who are without significant cognitive disability and those with a walking capacity within reach are considered candidates. This is an extremely complex surgery, and like all surgeries, presents risks. Parents need to be made aware of all the factors involved in this potentially life-altering procedure.

Benefits of SDR

Reduces or eliminates the need for long term pharmacological intervention, such as muscle relaxants and antispasmodic medications.
May offer immediate reduction in muscle tone in adductors, hamstrings and dorsiflexors with no recurrence of spasticity.
Reduced need for other orthopedic surgeries to correct joint contractures.

Risks of SDR

The procedure is irreversible.
Post-operative weakness and loss of some motor ability have been noted. Intense physical therapy is required to regain strength and mobility.
May lead to deterioration in walking ability or bladder function, or later complications including spinal deformity.
Commonly reported post-op side effect includes abnormal sensitivity of the skin on the feet and legs lasting up to 6 weeks.
Prolonged physical therapy (specifically physiotherapy) and aftercare is required.
Additional surgery may be required.
The full benefits of SDR may not be realized until up to a year after the surgery.
Possibility of excessive weight gain. (I found this weight gain side effect to be true with my own daughter. As a result of significantly reducing her spasticity with Intrathecal Baclofen Pump therapy she gained 40 lbs in the first year after the pump placement!)

Is SDR Right for Your Child?

If you believe your child may be a candidate for SDR surgery, speak with your child’s pediatrician, therapists, orthopedic specialist and neurologist. Be prepared for the long haul. Gather all the information you can. Make lists of every question that comes to mind.

As with any major surgery, there are risks and threat of complication. Do the research to ask the right questions! As you research, write down questions and concerns that you encounter in your reviews. Think of all the details of pre-op, the initial surgery, post-op, long term rehab, therapies, pain management, educational needs and adaptations, mobility, assistive technology needs post-op, and other issues of importance that may come to mind. Remember the only “dumb question” is the one you don’t ask!