The use of selective dorsal rhizotomy for treating spasticity in patients with infantile cerebral palsy
Shevelev, I.N.; Shabalov, V.A.; Artarian, A.A.; Safronov, V.A.; Stepanenko, A.I.
Zhurnal Voprosy Neirokhirurgii Imeni N. N. Burdenko 3: 19-22
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-8817 PMID: 8975509 Document Number: 461193
The paper gives the results of using selective dorsal rhizotomy at the lumbosacral level in 15 children with infantile cerebral paralysis, 12 of whom were at the age of 6 to 15 years. It also discusses surgical techniques, the use of intraoperative stimulation, and the impact of selective dorsal rhizotomy on muscle tone. The paper provides evidence for the benefits of surgery reducing the muscle tone at the expense of its spastic component. Based on the relationship between the number of cut fibers as part of each root and the degree of decreased muscle tone, a procedure is proposed for conservative surgical interventions to be used in patients employing spasticity for support.