Selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with spastic hemiparesis

Neurological conditions including cerebral palsy, brain injury, and stroke often result in severe spasticity, which can lead to significant deformity and interfere with function. Treatments for spasticity include oral medications, intramuscular botulinum toxin type A injections, orthopedic surgeries, intrathecal baclofen pump implantation, and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). Selective dorsal rhizotomy, which has been well studied in children with spastic diplegia, results in significant reduction in spasticity and improved function in children. To the authors' knowledge, there are no published outcome data for SDR in patients with spastic hemiparesis. The object of this study was to examine the effects of SDR on spastic hemiparesis.

A 2-year study was undertaken including all children with spastic hemiparesis who underwent SDR at the authors' institution. The degree of spasticity, as measured by the Modified Ashworth Scale or quality of gait rated using the visual gait assessment scale, the gait parameters, and velocity were compared in patients before and after undergoing SDR.

Thirteen children (mean age 6 years 7 months) with spastic hemiparesis underwent SDR performed by the same surgeon during a 2-year period. All of the patients had a decrease in tone in the affected lower extremity after the procedure. The mean reduction in tone in 4 muscle groups (hip adductors, knee flexors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors) according to the modified Ashworth scale score was 2.6 ± 1.26 (p < 0.0001). The quality of gait was assessed in 7 patients by using the visual gait assessment scale. This score improved in 6 patients and remained the same in 1. Stride length and gait velocity were measured in 4 children. Velocity increased in 3 patients and decreased in a 3-year-old child. Parents and clinicians reported an improvement in quality of gait after the procedure. Stride length increased bilaterally in 3 patients and increased on one side and decreased on the other in the other patient.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy showed efficacy in the treatment of spastic hemiparesis in children. All of the patients had decreased tone after SDR as measured by the modified Ashworth scale. The majority of patients had qualitative and quantitative improvements in gait.