Long-term impact of childhood selective dorsal rhizotomy on pain, fatigue, and function: a case-control study.
Alecia K Daunter, Anna L Kratz, Edward A Hurvitz
PMID 28617943WHAT IT FOUND
Childhood selective dorsal rhizotomy did not reduce adult pain or fatigue, but adults who had the surgery reported better overall motor function and needed fewer hours of daily assistance than those who did not.
Key findings
01There were no significant differences in pain intensity, pain interference, or fatigue between adults who had childhood SDR and those who did not.
02Adults who had SDR reported significantly better overall motor function and required fewer hours of daily help compared to the non-surgical group.
03While the SDR group reported less general motor decline, there was no significant difference in self-reported changes in walking ability specifically.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relied entirely on self-reported measures, which can be less reliable for retrospective assessments of change over time. The groups were not equivalent at baseline; the SDR group had more severe motor impairment (higher GMFCS levels) than the comparison group, although statistical models adjusted for this. Participants were recruited from a single tertiary center and the community, potentially limiting generalizability to other institutions with different SDR selection criteria. The interpretation of 'hours of help' varied among respondents, with some low-support individuals reporting high hours and vice versa.
Declared interests
The authors stated they had no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume SDR prevents functional decline in all domains. While the SDR group reported better overall function and less general motor decline, there was no significant difference in the specific outcome of walking ability changes between the two groups.