Spinal stenosis after total lumbar laminectomy for selective dorsal rhizotomy

Knowledge of long-term outcome and complications of selective dorsal rhizotomy is limited due to the relatively recent introduction of the procedure. We describe 2 patients with cerebral palsy who developed lumbar spinal stenosis several years after selective dorsal rhizotomy. These patients also had substantial lateral trunk sway during gait and walked for several years with limited assistive devices. This abnormal gait pattern in combination with the changes from the selective dorsal rhizotomy may lead to the development of spinal stenosis.