Comparison of Motor Outcomes after Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy with and without Preoperative Intensified Physiotherapy in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

A previous randomized clinical trial compared selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) plus postoperative intensified physiotherapy (group 1) with intensified physiotherapy alone (group 2) for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. At the end of this trial, all patients in group 2 had an SDR, followed by further intensified physiotherapy. This study was performed to determine if the additional intensified physiotherapy before SDR, as occurred in group 2, improved long-term motor outcome. Outcomes were compared in the two groups, i.e. group 1 without intensified physiotherapy before SDR and group 2 with intensified physiotherapy before SDR. The primary outcome measure was the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Lower-limb spasticity, range and strength were secondary outcome measures. Baseline assessments had been done for the prior clinical trial. For this study, patients were reassessed by physiotherapists blinded to the treatment group. Thirteen children in each group were studied at a mean follow-up of 53 months. The mean improvement in GMFM was 10.0 in group 1 and 10.4 in group 2 (p = 0.9). Improvements in spasticity and range were similar in the two groups. There was no significant change in muscle strength in either group. It was concluded that in this relatively small series of patients, additional intensified physiotherapy before SDR did not improve motor outcomes.