Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy
Thursday, April 24, 2008

Children with cerebral palsy may have a difficult time walking.  In the 60 Second Housecall, Dr. Ken Davis discusses a surgical procedure that just might make a big difference in their ambulation.

Children with cerebral palsy may have spasticity of the legs that impairs their ability to walk.  Selective rhizotomy is a surgical procedure that may improve these children’s ambulation.

The leg muscles are controlled by motor and sensory nerves.  Over activity of the sensory nerves causes leg spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.

In this surgical procedure, the neurosurgeon makes an incision in the lower back and exposes the nerves to the legs.  The surgeon separates the motor and sensory fibers.  The sensory fibers are stimulated electrically to determine which are overactive.

By cutting only the sensory nerves causing spasticity, muscle stiffness is decreased.  Some children with cerebral palsy have dramatic improvements in their ability to walk after this surgery.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy is not indicated for all children with spasticity.  If your therapist or physician recommends this treatment, you should be referred to a specialty center that does a large volume of these cases.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.