SPASTIC
For the vast majority of people, a word like "spastic" does not mean anything. But parents of children with cerebral palsy know this word well, because it describes a huge problem. Imagine that you are asked to bend your arm at the elbow and tighten the muscles of your arm very strongly. You can do it without any problem. But what happens if you ask you to hold a tense hand for an hour or try to do something with your hand with fully tense muscles. And if this is not an hour, but a month, a year, your whole life ...
Spasticity is an increase in the tone of the muscles of the arms and legs, which greatly complicates any movement, and also leads to deformation of the limbs and the need for regular orthopedic operations. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have spasticity in their limbs, which is a huge problem. For some, it is difficulty walking, for others it is a complete inability to walk, and in severe cases, spasticity greatly complicates even patient care.
In order to get rid of spasticity, the selective dorsal rhizotomy was invented. The essence of the operation is to partially cross the sensory nerves leading to the legs under neurophysiological control (neuromonitoring) and preserve the motor ones. After surgery, spasticity decreases immediately after the patient wakes up with anesthesia and can significantly improve the results of rehabilitation, facilitate child care, and improve walking.
