Cohort study reveals reduced spasticity and dystonia alongside improved quality of life in non-ambulatory cerebral palsy, indicating safe functional benefits.
Key Points
To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and quality-of-life outcomes of combined dorsal and ventral rhizotomy in non-ambulatory individuals with mixed spastic bilateral cerebral palsy.
Analyzed prospective registry data of consecutively recruited patients undergoing combined dorsal and ventral rhizotomy between 2020 and 2025 (N = 33; 21 males, 12 females; mean age 14 years 6 months; 91% in Gross Motor Function Classification System level V).
Evaluated spasticity via the modified Ashworth Scale, dystonia via the Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale, and quality of life via the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months post-surgery.
Spasticity improved in all participants at 12 months by a median of 2 levels (preoperative: 3.0 [IQR 3.0–4.0] vs. 1.0 [IQR 1.0–1.25] at 1 year, p < 0.001).
Dystonia improved significantly at 12 months (preoperative: 17.5 [IQR 10.0–21.25] vs. 8.0 [IQR 3.25–10.5], p = 0.016), and caregiver-reported quality-of-life scores increased from 33.8 (5.3) to 48.1 (4.7) (p = 0.012).
Surgical complications were infrequent (one wound infection and no cerebrospinal fluid leaks), and all patients resumed baseline stander or assistive gait device use by 1 year.