Effect of Designed Physical Training After Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy on Motor Function of Ambulant Children With Spastic Diplegia

Children of this group will receive a regular exercise rehabilitation program including starching exercises, functional strength training and static and dynamic balance exercises.The program will be conducted by six licensed pediatric physical therapists for one hour/session, 3 times/week, and six successive months.

A custom-made articulating ankle foot orthosis was prescribed with a hinge at the level of the medial malleolus extends distally to the tip of the toes and proximally on the posterior surface of the leg to about 5 cm below the knee and secured straps. It is fabricated to permit free ankle dorsiflexion and lock the plantar flexion at 0 dorsiflexion. The splinting schedule started gradually for 2 h/day in the first month, 4 h/day in the second month to the entire wake-up time of the day.

The surgical procedures were tailored to each child according to preoperative assessment plan. All SDRs were performed by a single neurosurgeon through an osteoplastic laminotomy from L2 to L5 that left the facet joints intact.