Cerebral palsy treatment with nerve-cutting surgery

One of the gold standards for treating patients with cerebral palsy is selective dorsal rhizotomy. This neurosurgical procedure aims to reduce muscle tone by targeting the roots that cause excessive impulses from the spinal cord to the upper or lower extremities. Doing so can relax the muscles, providing the patient with short- and long-term benefits. Following surgery, most patients improve their gait with increased stride length and a more significant range of motion in the knee and hip. Surgery can also restore movement in the upper extremities for patients whose lumbar roots only innervate the lower extremities. The cerebral palsy operation involves crossing certain spinal cord roots responsible for heightened muscle tension in the lower back. That is done with the help of neurophysiological monitoring, where only the roots that respond abnormally to stimulation are targeted. The neurosurgeon divides the roots into multiple parts and tests each by stimulating and recording the response. It ensures that the operation won't affect the motor fibers or sensitivity. Muscle tone returns to normal after the surgery, which uses minimally invasive technology to preserve the spine's integrity and prevent future deformation. Following the procedure, it is necessary to undergo early and intensive physiotherapy rehabilitation for an extended period.