Clinical outcomes after selective dorsal rhizotomy in an adult population

Nerve-Targeted Surgical Treatments for Spasticity: A Narrative Review

Spasticity is a potentially debilitating symptom of various acquired and congenital neurologic pathologies that, without adequate treatment, may lead to long-term disability, compromise functional independence, and negatively impact mental health. Several conservative as well as non-nerve targeted surgical strategies have been developed for the treatment of spasticity, but these may be associated with significant drawbacks, such as adverse side effects to medication, device dependence on intrathecal baclofen pumps, and inadequate relief with tendon-based procedures. In these circumstances, patients may benefit from nerve-targeted surgical interventions such as (i) selective dorsal rhizotomy, (ii) hyperselective neurectomy, and (iii) nerve transfer. When selecting the appropriate surgical approach, preoperative patient characteristics, as well as the risks and benefits of nerve-targeted surgical intervention, must be carefully evaluated. Here, we review the current evidence on the efficacy of these nerve-targeted surgical approaches for treating spasticity across various congenital and acquired neurologic pathologies.

Functional outcome after selective dorsal rhizotomy: a retrospective case control study

PURPOSE

This study examines long-term benefit on functional outcomes and quality of life after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in children with spastic diplegia in Hong Kong.

METHOD

This is a case control study. Individuals with spastic diplegia who were at 6 to 12 years post-SDR were recruited. Age, gender, cognition, and Gross Motor Function Classification System level-matched individuals with spastic diplegia who had not undergone SDR were recruited as controls. Outcome measures included physical level, functional level, physiological level, and quality of life. All data were compared by independent t-test.

RESULTS

Individuals post-SDR (n = 15) demonstrated a significantly better range of ankle dorsiflexion in knee extension by - 5.7 ± 10.9° than the control group (n = 12). No other significant differences were observed.

CONCLUSION

SDR is a safe, one-off procedure and provides long-term reduction in spasticity with no major complications. With the heterogeneity, we did not demonstrate between-group differences in long-term functional outcomes.

Efficacy of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and Intrathecal Baclofen Pump in the Management of Spasticity

BACKGROUND

Neurosurgical indications and interventions provided in the management of spasticity have evolved significantly over time. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps have been used to improve mobility, reduce lower extremity spasticity, and increase quality of life in patients with various diagnoses.

METHODS

Studies describing ITB and SDR outcomes in adult and pediatric patients were identified from Medline and Embase databases. Only publications between January 1990 to January 2021 were included. Combinations of search terms 'Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy', 'Selective Posterior Rhizotomy', 'functional posterior rhizotomy', 'intrathecal baclofen pump', and 'spasticity' were used. Only studies in English language and those that included parameters for lower extremity outcome (i.e., spasticity, ambulation) were included. Only studies describing follow-up 12 months or greater were included. Case reports, reviews without primary data, or inaccessible publications were excluded.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety publications between January 1990 to January 2021 were identified. Of these, 62 fit inclusion and exclusion criteria for a total of 1291 adult and 2263 patients. Etiologies in adult and pediatric populations varied substantially with multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and trauma comprising the majority of causes for spasticity in adult patients. In pediatric patients, cerebral palsy was the predominant etiology of spasticity. While outcomes after SDR and ITB varied, both are effective for long-term tone reduction. SDR appeared to have a greater effect on function compared to baseline when comparing relatively similar subgroups. The complication rates for either intervention were significant; ITB had a much greater incidence of wound and hardware adverse events, whereas SDR was associated with a not insignificant incidence of new bladder or sensory deficit.

CONCLUSION

ITB and SDR have demonstrated efficacy and utility for tone reduction in a variety of conditions. The selection of a specific intervention may have a variety of determining features including the etiology of spasticity, age of patient, as well as balancing benefit and complication profiles of each technique. Appropriate patient selection is essential for providing optimal patient outcomes.

Systematic review on use and efficacy of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for the management of spasticity in non-pediatric patients

PURPOSE

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has been used to improve mobility and reduce lower extremity spasticity in patients with a various CNS conditions. Incidentally, literature on SDR has been performed in the pediatric population as such there is a paucity of research on the use in adult patients.

METHODS

Studies describing SDR in adults were identified from Medline and Embase databases. Combinations of search terms "Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy," "Selective Posterior Rhizotomy," and "Adult" were used. Only literature in English language on patients over the age of 18 years and that included measures for lower extremity outcome (i.e., spasticity, mobility) were included. Case reports, reviews without primary data, or inaccessible publications were excluded.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-nine publications between 1970 and 2019 were identified. Twelve of these publications fit the inclusion criteria (n = 141 patients). In series where it was reported, SDR resulted in ambulatory improvement (54%, n = 44 out of 81), reduced spasticity (75.2%, n = 106 out of 141), and minimized muscle and joint pain (74.5%, n = 64 out of 86). SDR also showed improvement in parameters of the activities of daily life. 92.3% (n = 48 out of 52) of patients post-SDR developed new lower limb paresthesia.

CONCLUSION

The success and efficacy appear durable in the short-term, but further follow-up is necessary to validate these findings. The goal of the intervention dictates the ideal adult patient for SDR. Patients seeking ambulatory improvement, any etiology of spasticity besides MS, seem favorable. Positive locomotive predictors include the ability to isolate lower extremity function, lack of contractures, lower limb strength, and post-SDR physiotherapy.

Intrathecal baclofen, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the treatment of spasticity in cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a chronic congenital disorder as the result of abnormal brain development. Children suffering from CP often battle debilitating chronic spasticity, which has been the focus of recent academic literature. In this systematic review, the authors aim to update the current neuromodulation procedures for the treatment of spasticity associated with CP in all age groups. A systematic review following was conducted using PubMed from inception to 2020. After initial title and abstract screening, 489 articles were identified, and 48 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. In total, a majority of the published articles of treatments for CP were reporting the use of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) (54%), and the remainder were of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps (29%) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) (17%). Each method was found to have improvement of spasticity at a rate that achieved statistical significance. ITB pump therapy is an all-encompassing method of treating spasticity in children from CP, as it allows for a less invasive treatment that can be titrated to individual patient needs; however, its disadvantages include its long-term maintenance requirements. SDR appears to be an effective method for permanent spasticity relief in young patients. ESWT is a more recent and innovative technique for offering relief of spasticity while being minimally invasiveness. Further studies are needed to establish optimal frequencies and sites of application for ESWT.

Long term outcome of Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for the management of childhood spasticity-functional improvement and complications

BACKGROUND

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for the management of lower extremity spasticity is a surgical technique that has existed since the 1900s. While much evidence supports its efficaciousness in reducing tone in the short term, limited information exists detailing the long-term outcome and evolution over time of patients undergoing SDR.

METHODS

All publications with 10 years or more of outcome data on patients undergoing SDR were identified from Medline and Embase databases using the search term "Rhizotmy." Only publications that were in English included patients with cerebral palsy under the age of 21 and discussed SDR for lower extremity spasticity were included. Case reports, reviews without primary data, or publications not accessible online were excluded from the review.

RESULTS

A total of 2128 publications were initially identified, of which 19 papers describing 1054 patients fit inclusion and exclusion criteria. GMFCS in most patients improved or remained stable over time after surgery, although durability of improvement and final outcome was dependent on initial functional status. Tone was noted to also substantially improve although a small proportion required additional oral or injectable pharmacologic agents and an even smaller proportion required baclofen pumps. Upper extremity function was also noted to improve substantially after SDR. A significant number of patients were independent for activities of daily living and were engaged in secondary education or gainful employment. A significant proportion of patients still required orthopedic surgery to the lower extremities after SDR, although the incidence of spinal deformity was not observed to be substantially elevated over that of natural history.

CONCLUSION

SDR offers substantial improvements to a number of domains beyond pure tone reduction. These changes are durable over time, although patient selection is crucial in identifying those patients that will have the most benefit. Long-term follow-up is in important in this population given the potential need for further interventions that still exist in many patients.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR)

For decades, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been used to guide selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Electromyography (EMG) interpretation methods, which are the core of IONM, have never been fully discussed and addressed, and their importance and necessity in SDR have been questioned for years. However, outcomes of CP patients who have undergone IONM-guided SDR have been favorable, and surgery-related complications are extremely minimal. In this paper, we review the history of evolving EMG interpretation methods as well as their neuroelectrophysiological basis.

The progress in the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy with selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR)

Spasticity is the main disabling clinical manifestation of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has been performed for the treatment of spastic CP in Asia for quite some time from 1990. The purpose of this review is to discuss the historical origin and development of SDR. Our goal here is to identify the current patient selection criteria for SDR and to point out indications and contraindications based on the patients with CP, age from 2 to 18 years-old, over 6000 cases, who received SDR surgery with spasticity of muscle tension more than 3 degrees in our center. We also discuss evidence-based approaches on how to evaluate postoperative patient outcomes of SDR and how complications can be avoided. Finally, we mention progress made in terms of SDR technical advances and how improvements can be made in the future. In conclusion, SDR surgery is a reliable way to improve outcomes of patients with spastic CP and can be done carefully in patients as long as stringent selection criteria are used. However, more research and technological advancements are needed to help address associated complications.

The role of selective dorsal rhizotomy in the management of post-traumatic spasticity: systematic review

There is a huge burden of patients suffering from trauma-induced disabling spasticity the world over. There are surprisingly few modalities of treatment with a sustained, proven benefit which can be offered to such patients. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has been used with proven success in treating spasticity in patients of cerebral palsy, both in children and in adults. The rationale behind using the procedure in post-traumatic cases is reviewed, along with the cases reported till date in the world literature. The indications, surgical procedure used, outcome and complications, if any, are described. Most of the cases described in the literature have shown a favourable outcome with minimal complications. SDR can become an important tool in the armamentarium of the clinician treating this condition.

Functional Outcome of Adulthood Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Spastic Diplegia

Objective The medical evidence supporting the efficacy of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on children with spastic diplegia is strong. However, the outcome of SDR on adults with spastic diplegia remains undetermined. The aim is to study the effectiveness and morbidities of SDR performed on adults for the treatment of spastic diplegia.  Methods Patients who received SDR in adulthood for the treatment of spastic diplegia were surveyed. The survey questionnaire addressed the living situation, education level, employment, health outcomes, postoperative changes of symptoms, changes in ambulatory function, adverse effects of SDR and orthopedic surgery after SDR.  Results The study included 64 adults, who received SDR for spastic diplegia. The age at the time of surgery was between 18 and 50 years. The age at the time of the survey was between 20 and 52 years. The follow-up period ranged from one to 28 years. The study participants reported post-SDR improvements of the quality of walking in 91%, standing in 81%, sitting in 57%, balance while walking 75%, ability to exercise in 88%, endurance in 77%, and recreational sports in 43%. Muscle and joint pain present before surgery improved in 64% after surgery. Concerning the level of ambulatory function, all patients who walked independently in all environments maintained the same level of ambulatory function. Eighteen percent of the patients who walked independently in some environments improved to the independent walking in all environments. All patients who walked with an assistive device before SDR maintained the assistive walking after SDR. Concerning adverse effects of SDR, 50% (32 of 64 patients) developed numbness in the various parts of the legs. Two patients reported a complete loss of sensation in parts of the legs, and one patient reported numbness and constant pain in the bilateral lower extremities. Ten patients (16%) reported recurrent spasticity after SDR, and three patients (5%) reported ankle clonus, which is an objective sign of spasticity. Tendon lengthening surgery after SDR was needed in 27% and hip and knee surgery in 2% and 6%, respectively.  Conclusions The great majority of our 64 patients, who received adulthood SDR for spastic diplegia, improved the quality of ambulation and abated signs of early aging. Numbness and diminished sensation in the lower extremity was the most common adverse effect of the adulthood SDR.

Use of whole body vibration therapy in individuals with moderate severity of cerebral palsy- a feasibility study

Background

This pilot study was to examine the feasibility and tolerance of whole body vibration therapy (WBVT) for children and adults with moderate severity of cerebral palsy (CP) being graded as levels III or IV on the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS).

Methods

Study participants received the additional WBVT when standing still on the vibration platform for three 3-min bouts of vibration (20 Hz, 2 mm amplitude), 4 days per week for 4 weeks. In addition to questions relating to feasibility and participants’ opinions, assessment at baseline and completion of the intervention included the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 Item Set (GMFM-66 IS), 2-min walk test (2MWT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to compare the results.

Results

Fourteen participants (mean age = 25.25 years SD 3.71; 9 males, 64%; GMFCS level III n = 13, 92%) were recruited and completed the study. The attendance rate was over 90% with no adverse events. All participants tolerated the protocol which was satisfactorily delivered in a clinical setting.

Conclusions

The present WBVT protocol was feasible, safe and well-tolerated by the participants with moderate severity of CP, justifying future studies with larger samples and more rigorous study design.

Trial registration

The present study has been registered under the ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03375736) and the date of registration commenced on 18 December 2017.

Evidence Supporting Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Treatment of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

The objective of this review is to analyze the evidence supporting selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy (CP). We reviewed 85 outcome studies from 12 countries between 1990 and 2017. The published results are overwhelmingly supportive of SDR, and 39 studies form a basis for this review. Also included is some of the clinical experience of the senior author.

The results show that SDR plus postoperative physiotherapy (PT) improved gait, functional independence, and self-care in children with spastic diplegia. In adults with a follow-up of 20 to 28 years, the early improvements after childhood SDR were sustained and improved quality of life. Furthermore, majority of the adults who underwent SDR as children would recommend SDR to others. On the clinical side, while SDRs through multilevel laminectomies or laminoplasty were associated with spinal deformities (i.e., scoliosis, hyperlordosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, and nonhealing of laminoplasty), SDRs through a single level laminectomy prevented SDR-related spinal problems. The outcomes of SDR specific to spastic quadriplegia require further investigation because of the relatively small patient population with quadriplegia. Lastly, we found that SDR can prevent or reverse premature aging in adolescents and adults with spastic diplegia. In conclusion, the evidence supporting the efficacy of SDR is strong, and SDR is a well-established option for spasticity management in spastic CP.

RIZOTOMIA DORSAL SELETIVA NA PARALISIA CEREBRAL: CRITÉRIOS DE INDICAÇÃO E PROTOCOLOS DE REABILITAÇÃO FISIOTERAPÊUTICA PÓS-OPERATÓRIA

Objective:

To identify selection criteria for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in cerebral palsy, to analyze the instruments used for evaluation, and to describe the characteristics of physical therapy in postoperative protocols.

Data sources:

Integrative review performed in the following databases: SciELO, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and PubMed. The terms in both Portuguese and English for “cerebral palsy”, “selective dorsal rhizotomy”, and “physical therapy” were used in the search. Studies whose samples enrolled individuals with cerebral palsy who had attended physical therapy sessions for selective dorsal rhizotomy according to protocols and describing such protocols’ characteristics were included. Literature reviews were excluded and there was no restriction as to period of publication.

Data synthesis:

Eighteen papers were selected, most of them being prospective cohort studies with eight-month to ten-year follow-ups. In most studies, the instruments of assessment encompassed the domains of functions, body structure, and activity. The percentage of posterior root sections was close to 50%. Primary indications for SDR included ambulatory spastic diplegia, presence of spasticity that interfered with mobility, good strength of lower limbs and trunk muscles, no musculoskeletal deformities, dystonia, ataxia or athetosis, and good cognitive function. Postoperative physical therapy is part of SDR treatment protocols and should be intensive and specific, being given special emphasis in the first year.

Conclusions:

The studies underline the importance of appropriate patient selection to obatin success in the SDR. Postoperative physical therapy should be intensive and long-term, and must necessarily include strategies to modify the patient’s former motor pattern.

Comparison of efficacy between dorsal root entry zone lesioning and selective dorsal rhizotomy for spasticity of cerebral origin

BACKGROUND

Severe spasticity adversely affects patient functional status and caregiving. No previous study has compared efficacy between dorsal root entry zone lesioning (DREZL) and selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for reduction of spasticity. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of DREZL and SDR for attenuating spasticity, and to compare efficacy between these two methods.

METHODS

All patients who underwent DREZL, SDR, or both for treatment of intractable spasticity caused by cerebral pathology at Siriraj Hospital during 2009 to 2016 were recruited. Severity of spasticity was assessed using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Adductor Tone Rating Scale (ATRS). Ambulatory status was also evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients (13 males) with a mean age of 30.3 ± 17.5 years were included. Eight, six, and one patient underwent DREZL, SDR, and combined cervical DREZL and lumbosacral SDR, respectively. Eight of ten patients with preoperative bed-bound status had postoperative improvement in ambulatory status. Spasticity was significantly reduced in the DREZL group (p < 0.001), the SDR group (p < 0.001), and in overall analysis (p < 0.001). SDR was effective in both pediatric and adult spasticity patients. A significantly greater reduction in spasticity as assessed by MAS score (p < 0.001) and ATRS score (p = 0.015) was found in the DREZL group. Transient lower limb weakness was found in a patient who underwent SDR.

CONCLUSIONS

DREZL is more effective for reducing spasticity, but is more destructive than SDR. DREZL should be preferred for bed-ridden patients, and SDR for ambulatory patients. Both operations are helpful for improving ambulatory status. Gait improvement was observed only in patients who underwent SDR. Adult patients with spasticity of cerebral origin benefit from SDR.

Role of dorsal rhizotomy in spinal cord injury-induced spasticity

Selective dorsal rhizotomy may have a role in the management of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced spasticity. Spasticity and spasms are common sequelae of SCI in children. Depending on the clinical scenario, treatments may include physical and occupational therapy, oral medications, chemodenervation, and neurosurgical interventions. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is used in the management of spasticity in selected children with cerebral palsy, but, to the authors' knowledge, its use has not been reported in children with SCI. The authors describe the cases of 3 pediatric patients with SCI and associated spasticity treated with SDR. Two of the 3 patients have had significant long-term improvement in their preoperative spasticity. Although the third patient also experienced initial relief, his spasticity quickly returned to its preoperative severity, necessitating additional therapies. Selective dorsal rhizotomy may have a place in the treatment of selected children with spasticity due to SCI.