What is selective dorsal rhizotomy?
Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure that reduces spasticity and provides marked improvement in walking and standing in children or adults who have cerebral palsy. Our neurosurgeons have developed surgical techniques that allow us to perform SDR with only a limited removal of bone from the spine. What is the Washington University advantage? At Washington University, our neurosurgeons have been performing SDR on patients with cerebral palsy since 1990. They have performed selective dorsal rhizotomy on more than 1000 patients – more than anywhere in the country We believe our procedures offer significant benefit over others, in terms of reduced risk of spinal deformities in later years, decreased post operative motor weakness, reduced hip flexor spasticity by sectioning the first lumbar dorsal root, shorter-term and less intense back pain. Our current opinion is that most patients with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia should have spasticity reduced first through
