Spasticity Surgery and Treatment
Spasticity is a velocity dependent resistance to stretch and is a very important problem that accompanies Cerebral Palsy. Effective treatments for spasticity can make enormous quality of life differences for children affected with this common disease their families. Treatment for spasticity may involve a variety of physical or medical treatments. Physical treatments may include exercises, stretching and use of braces. Medical treatments include oral Baclofen, Dantrolene, Diazepam or Clonazepam. However, a significant number of patients will demonstrate either a wearing off of effect or will develop significant side effects from medications. As such, surgical options are important and include Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and Baclofen Pump placement.
Children’s of Alabama is one of only a limited number of pediatric medical centers with extensive experience in treating pediatric spasticity with both Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) and Baclofen pump therapies. We believe that therapy for spasticity needs to be carefully individualized and that more than one treatment is necessary and appropriate to meet the needs of children with spasticity. The multi-disciplinary spasticity clinic at COA includes physicians from Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as well as physical and occupational therapists and nurses from each of the divisions.
Spasticity
Phone: 205-638-9653
Location:
McWane Building
1600 7th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
1st Floor
Clinic 11
Second Thursday of every other month
