SDR therapy

What is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)?

It’s an operation, where the nerve roots in the lower spinal cord are selectively disconnected to reduce high muscle tone (spasticity) in the leg muscles in children with cerebral palsy. This procedure can only be done once, and only for children who are carefully assessed and selected to be suitable for surgery. When it’s supported by physiotherapy (before and afterwards), it can greatly improve your child’s movement.

What do you need to know before surgery?

It’s important to consider the implications of the long-term physiotherapy needs for your child following surgery, and its impact on family life. This is because your child may need on-going intensive physiotherapy for one to two years following surgery for a more successful result.

So, before your child even has surgery we:

• Do a  detailed assessment of your child, to measure their muscle strength and function and understand how they are using their legs at the moment
• We create a plan to with you to combine treatment blocks at The Bobath Centre (to strengthen the weak muscles and prepare your child for a good recovery after surgery), with a home programme, to help prepare your child for the surgery, physically and mentally

What should you expect after surgery?

• Therapy should be provided while your child is in hospital recovering from the surgery, and they will usually receive a therapy plan to follow once discharged
• You can book intensive therapy blocks, or on-going therapy  at The Bobath Centre along with a home programme, what is provided will be tailored to you
• The therapy blocks focus on improving your child’s body (trunk) control and pelvic stability, and to move their legs with less compensation from the body. The goal with this focus is to improve your child’s ability to stand, walk, balance and move between positions
• Our Bobath therapist will liaise with your local therapy team and staff at school to work collaboratively together to help your child become more independent