Anterior rhizotomy for the relief of spasticity

Donald Munro in 1933 first undertook the procedure of anterior rhizotomy for the relief of spasticity in cases of thoracic cord injury and reported his results in 1945. The present series comprises 30 patients since that date, but the procedure has been modified slightly so as to avoid cutting the nerve roots to the lower abdominal muscles. The main justification for the procedure is the avoidance of any interference with the reflex arc for control of the urinary bladder and it would appear appropriate also to leave the lower abdominal reflex muscular activity intact so as to encourage full emptying of the bladder.