Long-term outcome after selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with spastic cerebral palsy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term outcomes after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for children with spastic cerebral palsy. This is a retrospective review of a prospective database of patients who underwent SDR at British Columbia Children’s Hospital. Hip adductor spasticity, hip range of motion (ROM), quadriceps strength, and motor function were assessed pre-operatively, at 6 months to 5 years and more than 10 years postoperatively. Patients were stratified by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level into group 1 (GMFCS II and III) and group 2 (GMFCS IV and V). Forty-four patients, with mean age at SDR of 4.5 years (range 2.9–7.7), were followed for a mean 14.4 years. Spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale) decreased 1.5 (p