Skip to main content

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring: Theory to Practice

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Intraoperative Monitoring

Abstract

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a powerful technique to reduce spasticity, especially in children with cerebral palsy. SDR identifies and sections dorsal roots to reduce spasticity, preserving muscle strength and sphincter functions (Pasquali et al. Childs Nerv Syst 36:1907–1918, 2020).

This chapter introduces the neurophysiological bases of muscle tonus and spasticity, indicates which patients benefit most from SDR, outlines the history and intraoperative neurosurgical and neurophysiological techniques as well as their most frequent difficulties, and suggests how to overcome them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

BCR:

Bulbocavernosus reflex

EEG:

Electroencephalography

EMG:

Electromyography

fEMG:

Free EMG

GMFMS:

Gross Motor Function Measure Score

IONM:

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring

MEP:

Motor evoked potential

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

SDR:

Selective dorsal rhizotomy

SSEP:

Somatosensory evoked potential

tEMG:

Stimulus-triggered EMG

References

  1. Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessel TM. Princípios da Neurociência. 4th ed. São Paulo: Manole Ltda; 2003. p. 713–35.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Decq P. Physiopathologie De La Spasticité. Neurochirurgie. 2003;49:163–84, 2.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mukherjee A, Chakravarty A. Spasticity mechanisms – for the clinician. Front Neurol. 2010;1:149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2010.00149. PMID: 21206767; PMCID: PMC3009478.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Bishop B. Spasticity: its physiology and management. Part II. Neurophysiology of spasticity: current concepts. Phys Ther. 1977;57(4):377–84. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/57.4.377. PMID: 139621.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Abbott R, Forem SL, Johann M. Selective posterior rhizotomy for the treatment of spasticity: a review. Childs Nerv Syst. 1989;5(6):337–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00271889. PMID: 2692811.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Pasquali C, Deletis V, Sala F. Selective dorsal rhizotomy: functional anatomy of the conus-cauda and essentials of intraoperative neurophysiology. Childs Nerv Syst. 2020;36(9):1907–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-020-04746-9. Epub 2020 Jul 7. PMID: 32638074.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Peacock WJ, Arens LJ. Selective posterior rhizotomy for the relief of spasticity in cerebral palsy. S Afr Med J. 1982;62(4):119–24. PMID: 7089801.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Haberl H. Chapter 39 – Selective dorsal rhizotomy. In: Deletis V, Shils JL, Sala F, Seidel K, editors. Neurophysiology in neurosurgery. 2nd ed. Academic Press; 2020. p. 551–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815000-9.00039-3. ISBN 9780128150009.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Enslin JMN, Langgerak NG, Fieggen AG. The evolution of selective dorsal rhizotomy for the management of spasticity. Neurotherapeutics. 2019;16:3–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-018-00690-40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Nicolini-Panisson RD’A, et al. Rizotomia dorsal seletiva na paralisia cerebral: critérios de indicação e protocolos de reabilitação fisioterapêutica pós-operatória. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2018;36(1):100–8. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462. Epub 15 Jan 2018. ISSN 1984-0462.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Palisano R, Rosenbaum P, Walter S, Russell D, Wood E, Galuppi B. Development and reliability of a system to classify gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1997;39(4):214–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Georgoulis G, Brînzeu A, Sindou M. Dorsal rhizotomy for children with spastic diplegia of cerebral palsy origin: usefulness of intraoperative monitoring. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2018;22(1):89–101. https://doi.org/10.3171/2018.1.PEDS17577. Epub 2018 Apr 13. PMID: 29652243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Michael P. Powell, Sir Victor Horsley at the birth of neurosurgery. Brain. 2016;139(2):631–4. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awv345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sherrington CS. Decerebrate rigidity, and reflex coordination of movements. J Physiol. 1898;22(4):319–32. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1898.sp000697. PMID: 16992412; PMCID: PMC1513016.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Foerster O. Resection of the posterior spinal nerve-roots in the treatment of gastric crises and spastic paralysis. SAGE Publications; 1911.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Foerster O. On the indication and results of the excision of posterior roots in men. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1913;16:463–75.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gros C, Ouaknine G, Vlahovitch B, Frerebeau P. La radicotomie sélective postérieure dans le traitement neuro- chirurgical de l’hypertonie pyramidale. Neurochirurgie. 1967;13:505–18.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fasano VA, Barolat-Romana G, Ivaldi A, Sguazzi A. La radicotomie postérieure fonctionnelle dans le traitement de la spasticité cérébrale Premieres observations sur la stimulation électrique peropératoire des racines postérieures, et leur utilisation dans le choix des racines à sectionner. Neurochirurgie. 1976;22(1):23–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Park TS, Gaffney PE, Kaufman BA, Molleston MC. Selective lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy immediately caudal to the conus medullaris for cerebral palsy spasticity. Neurosurgery. 1993;33:92933.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Funk JF, Haberl H. Monosegmental laminoplasty for selective dorsal rhizotomy—operative technique and influence on the development of scoliosis in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2016;32(5):81925. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-016-3016-3. Epub 2016 Jan 13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Park TS, Johnston JM. Surgical techniques of selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy. Technical note. Neurosurg Focus. 2006;21(2):e7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Meythaler JM. Concept of spastic hypertonia. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2001;12(4):725–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Abbott R. Complications with selective posterior rhizotomy. Pediatr Neurosurg. 1992;18(1):43–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Farmer JP, Sabbagh AJ. Selective dorsal rhizotomies in the treatment of spasticity related to cerebral palsy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2007;23(9):991–1002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Peacock WJ, Arens LJ, Berman B. Cerebral palsy spasticity. Selective posterior rhizotomy. Pediatr Neurosci. 1987;13(2):61–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Drazin D, Auguste K. Contemporary dorsal rhizotomy surgery for the treatment of spasticity in childhood. In: Quinones-Hinojosa A, editor. Schmidek & sweet operative neurosurgical techniques: indications, methods and results. Philadelphia: Elsevier/Saunders; 2012. p. 753–8. Selective.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Steinbok P, Hicdonmez T, Sawatzky B, Beauchamp R, Wickenheiser D. Spinal deformities after selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2005;102:363–3730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Langerak NG, Vaughan CL, Hoffman EB, et al. Incidence of spinal abnormalities in patients with spastic diplegia 17 to 26 years after selective dorsal rhizotomy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2009;25:1593–603. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-009-0993-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Turner RP. Neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring during selective dorsal rhizotomy. J Clin Neurophysiol. 2009;26(2):82–4. https://doi.org/10.1097/WNP.0b013e31819f9077. PMID: 19279497.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hays MH, McLaughlin JF, Bjornson KF, Stephen K, Roberts TS, Price R. Electrophysiological monitoring during selective dorsal rhizotomy, and spasticity and GMFM performance. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1998;40:233–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Vaughan CL, Berman B, Peacock WJ. Cerebral palsy and rhizotomy. A 3-year follow-up evaluation with gait analysis. J Neurosurg. 1991;74(2):178–84. https://doi.org/10.3171/jns.1991.74.2.0178. PMID: 1988585.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Clinical practice guidelines for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring: 2020 update. Special Article. Ann Clin Neurophysiol. 2021;23(1):35–45. https://doi.org/10.14253/acn.2021.23.1.35. Published online: April 29, 2021.

  33. Song Y, Ferri SA, Kobylarz EJ, Thomas Jr GP, Bauer DF. Advances in neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring during selective dorsal rhizotomy. http://www.asnm.org/resource/resmgr/Events/2018/Annual/2018_Eposters/5._Song_-_Advances_in_Neurop.pdf.

  34. Phillips LH, Park TS. Electrophysiologic studies of selective posterior rhizotomy patients. In: Park TS, Phillips LH, Peacock WJ, editors. Management of spasticity in cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. Philadelphia: Hanley and Belfus Inc; 1989. p. 459–69. Neurosurgery: State of the Art Reviews; Vol. 4, No. 2.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Dolbow J, Throckmorton Z. Neuroanatomy, spinal cord myotatic reflex. [Updated 2020 Sept 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island: StatPearls Publishing; 2021. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551629/.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Fasano VA, Broggi G, Zeme S. Intraoperative electrical stimulation for functional posterior rhizotomy. Scand J Rehabil Med Suppl. 1988;17:149–54. PMID: 3165207.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Steinbok P, Langill L, Cochrane DD, Keyes R. Observations on electrical stimulation of lumbosacral nerve roots in children with and without lower limb spasticity. Childs Nerv Syst. 1992;8(7):376–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00304784. PMID: 1458494.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlo Domênico Marrone .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Marrone, C.D., Bedin, A., Hoppe, A.M., D’Aviz, C.S., Bizzi, J.W.J. (2022). Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring: Theory to Practice. In: Verst, S.M., Barros, M.R., Maldaun, M.V.C. (eds) Intraoperative Monitoring. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95730-8_26

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95730-8_26

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95729-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-95730-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics