Improving Quality of Life Through Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy in a Pediatric Patient with Cerebral Palsy and Spastic Quadriparesis: A Rare Case with Twisted Conus Medullaris
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/j4nxwj36Keywords:
Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Quadriparesis, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Spasticity ManagementAbstract
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent movement disorder characterized by abnormal motor control
and posture, often leading to significant physical disability. A common feature of CP, spasticity, results from
damage to upper motor neurons, causing muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions. Selective dorsal
rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical procedure aimed at reducing spasticity in CP patients.
Case Description: A 6-year-old male with spastic quadriparesis due to infancy spasticity in the right hand and
lower limbs underwent SDR after physiotherapy failed to alleviate his severe spasticity. Neurological
examination revealed spastic paraparesis in the lower extremities and a history of seizures. MRI confirmed the
necessity for surgical intervention due to abnormalities from vertebrae Th12 to L1. The patient underwent SDR
under general anesthesia, targeting spinal roots from L3 to S1. The immediate postoperative period was
uneventful, with no major complications reported. This suggests that SDR can be safely performed in pediatric
patients with CP and severe spasticity.
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