Neurosurgical Treatment for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity

Abstract

The spasticity of cerebral palsy is usually a useful substitute for deficiency of motor strength. However not infrequently, it may become harmful leading to an aggravation of motor disability. When excessive spasticity is not sufficiently controlled by physical therapy and pharmacological treatment, patients can have recourse to neurosurgery: neurostimulation, intrathecal baclofen or selective ablative procedures. Because excessive hypertonia has to be reduced without suppression of the useful muscular tone or impairment in the residual motor and sensory functions, neuroablative procedures must be as selective as possible. These selective lesions can be performed at the level of peripheral nerves, spinal roots, or the dorsal root entry zone(DREZotomy). The new neurological status brought about by the neurosurgical operation will reach its optimal level only if intensive, prolonged, comprehensive treatment is provided by an expert multidisciplinary team including rehabilitation medicine. The neurosurgical treatment must take place before the onset of irreversible articular disturbances and musculotendinous retractions, which require complementary orthopedic corrections.