Dorsal Rhizotomy in the Pediatric Patient

The majority of cases of dorsal rhizotomy surgeries in children are done to improve the spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, and more recent techniques are selective in nature and referred to as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). The techniques applied to selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery has changed since it was first described and continues to undergo modifications. Approaches to surgery and monitoring vary slightly among centers. This article provides a review of the rationale, variety of surgical approaches, and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring methods used along with discussion of the risks, complications and outcomes in these surgeries.