Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2005 , Vol 15 , Num 3
CERVICAL POSTERIOR RHIZOTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF UPPER LIMB SPASTICITY
Tufan HIÇDÖNMEZ, M. Kemal HAMAMCIOĞlU, Sebahattin ÇOBANOĞLU, Cumhur KILINÇER, Osman ŞİMŞEK
Trakya Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Edirne Posterior rhizotomy (PR) is a surgical procedure used to reduce spasticity and improve motor function in patients with spasticity. However, the PR procedure has been used almost exclusively in the lumbosacral posterior roots. A 58-yearold stroke patient with left upper limb spasticity and pain, and a five-year-old boy with left upper limb spasticity and pain due to cerebral palsy underwent cervical posterior rhizotomy at C5-8 and C6-8 levels respectively. Patients were followed up two years after surgery. Postoperatively, the spasticity and pain prominent in forearm, wrist and fingers were markedly reduced. Our findings suggest that cervical PR procedure is effective in reducing spasticity and in improving motor functions in patients with upper limb spasticity. Anahtar Kelimeler : Cervical, Posterior rhizotomy, Spasticity