What is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery?

What is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery?

SDR surgery is the only surgery that can provide a permanent reduction in spasticity.

SDR surgery cuts the motor nerve roots (ventral roots) coming out of the spinal cord which is responsible for causing spasticity.

The procedure:

• The neurosurgeon removes part of the vertebrae called the lamina and cuts through meninges to access the spinal cord and nerve roots.
• Ultrasound and x-rays are used to locate the spinal cord and the separation between sensory and motor nerves.
• The sensory nerve roots are further divided into rootlets, these are then tested with an electromyogram (EMG) which detects electrical patterns and rates them on being mild or severe. A rootlet that causes spasticity comes up as severe on the EMG.
• Rootlets that causes spasticity are cut, and then the same procedure occurs from spinal level L1-S2.
• The whole procedure takes around 4 hours and your child will spend around 2 hours in the recovery room.

To book an assessment or for more information please email office@manchesterneurophysio.co.uk call 0161 883 0066 .