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Cerebral Palsy pp 277–282Cite as

Dorsal Root Rhizotomy for the Treatment of Spasticity

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Abstract

Dorsal root rhizotomy (DRR) surgery is an effective, ablative, long-term treatment in young children with spastic diplegia and has maximal effectiveness when combined with intensive physical and occupational therapies. This neurosurgical operation should be considered when evaluating prospective patients in a multidisciplinary spasticity clinic. DRR provides benefit to carefully selected children with spasticity as a result of cerebral palsy where spasticity is the main factor compromising gait and motor function. The risk of surgical complications is low in experienced centres. Selective dorsal root rhizotomy (SDDR), which includes intraoperative electrophysiology and physical muscle monitoring, is strongly recommended as an evidence-based procedure for reducing spasticity and improving gait kinematics. There is also evidence in the literature that SDDR improves gross motor function. Overall, the levels of satisfaction in adults who have undergone SDDR as children have been reported to be generally high, with no negative influence on life satisfaction. In most patients, the benefits remain throughout adolescences and adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Michael Vassilyadi

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  1. Michael Vassilyadi
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Correspondence to Michael Vassilyadi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Paediatric Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Division of Paediatric Neurology, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christos P. Panteliadis

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Vassilyadi, M. (2018). Dorsal Root Rhizotomy for the Treatment of Spasticity. In: Panteliadis, C. (eds) Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67858-0_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67858-0_26

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-67858-0

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