Short-term selective dorsal rhizotomy responders among children with bilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: To identify the short-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) on gait and clinical impairments in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and subgroups based on baseline gait patterns.

Method: Eighty-nine children with bilateral spastic CP (55 males, mean age [SD] before SDR: 9 years 5 months [2 years 3 months]; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I: 18; II: 54; III: 17) received three-dimensional gait analyses at two time points (baseline and 1 year after SDR); their baseline gait patterns were classified. The analysis included the comparisons of (1) sagittal plane kinematic waveforms, the Gait Profile Score, and non-dimensional spatiotemporal parameters between the two time points, (2) the kinematic waveforms of both time points to those of typically developing children, and (3) composite impairment scores of spasticity, weakness, and selectivity between the two time points.

Results: Overall, kinematics improved distally but deteriorated proximally in the entire sample, especially in genu recurvatum and crouch gait patterns. Jump gait showed the most improvements after SDR, followed by apparent equinus and crouch gait. Spasticity was reduced after SDR, but not at the expense of strength or selectivity.

Interpretation: The potential merit of investigating short-term SDR effects on gait according to baseline gait patterns was shown, with an overview of changes after SDR that may facilitate patient-tailored treatment.