SDR

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy

For children with cerebral palsy

Scotland is offering a surgical treatment called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The new service is offered as part of the Tone Management Service for children with cerebral palsy.

SDR is an operation used to reduce spasticity (velocity dependent increase in the stiffness of muscles) in the legs of some children with cerebral palsy.

The service is provided in the children’s hospitals in both Edinburgh and Glasgow and involves a prolonged and intensive rehabilitation programme after surgery. A very small number of children with cerebral palsy will benefit from this surgery so referrals should be made by the child’s local team in the community. The first operation to be undertaken as part of the new national service was on 30th June 2017.

For more information about the service, please take a look at our Information leaflets for Children and Families below:

Non-urgent advice: A Patient’s SDR Journey

Documents for Staff

Information for Neurosurgical clinicians and physiotherapists can be found below: