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Disappearance of Spasticity After Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Does Not Prevent Muscle Shortening in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report

Rehabilitation Centre Heliomare, Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands, m.spijker{at}heliomare.nl

Rob L. M. Strijers, MD, PhD

Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Willem J. R. van Ouwerkerk, MD, PhD

Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Jules G. Becher, MD, PhD

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Selective dorsal rhizotomy is an effective treatment for spasticity in children with cerebral palsy who have a spastic motor disorder. It is hypothesized that muscle shortening is related to spasticity; the lack of stretch of a muscle is thought to be the cause of muscle shortening. If this is true, the treatment for spasticity should prevent the occurrence of muscle shortening during growth. We present the case of 1 child with cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia, for whom the treatment with selective dorsal rhizotomy was successful in improving the walking abilities. She did, however, develop muscle shortening during growth. In conclusion, the development of muscle shortening during growth in children with cerebral palsy and spastic paresis cannot be prevented by treatment for the spasticity alone.

Key Words: selective dorsal rhizotomy • muscle shortening • cerebral palsy

This version was published on May 1, 2009

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 24, No. 5, 625-627 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0883073808325652


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