Outcomes of selective dorsal rhizotomy in ambulatory children and young people with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.
Deepti Chugh, Eleanor Main, Gillian Waite and 5 others
PMID 40970341WHAT IT FOUND
Most research on selective dorsal rhizotomy measures muscle tone and movement, ignoring patient goals and daily participation.
Only four studies tracked individualized goals and two explored family perspectives, leaving a major gap in understanding what matters to patients.
Key findings
01Body function and structure outcomes were reported in 93% of studies, while participation outcomes appeared in only 15%.
02Only four studies reported individualized goals for surgery, and just two qualitative studies explored the perspectives of children and parents.
03A reduction in spasticity after surgery does not inherently result in improved function or participation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review did not critically appraise the quality of the included studies. Most evidence comes from North America and Europe, limiting generalizability to other regions. Multiple publications from the same center may have skewed the frequency of certain outcome measures. Grey literature was not searched, potentially omitting some reported outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high volume of research as evidence that selective dorsal rhizotomy improves daily participation or quality of life. The literature is heavily skewed toward measuring body structure and function, with very few studies actually reporting on the outcomes that matter most to patients' lives.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →