Changes in cognitive performance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy following selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Children with cerebral palsy who receive selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for treatment of spasticity may show suprasegmental changes in upper limb function and control of speech musculature. Anecdotal reports suggest that supra-segmental effects may extend to cognitive functions such as attention and language. This study examined the performance of 16 children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy on tests of visual attention and other cognitive functions 1 day prior to and 6 months following SDR. Children undergoing SDR were compared with 9 children with spastic diplegia, matched for severity of cerebral palsy and amount of therapy, who did not receive SDR, and 24 age- and sex-matched normal children tested at initial and 6-month follow-up sessions. Children with cerebral palsy treated with SDR showed disproportionately greater improvement in specific attentional and cognitive operations than either of the other groups. These results document cognitive changes following SDR which heretofore were reportedly anecdotally. This improvement may be due to improved mood, reduced physical discomfort, increased therapeutic intervention, or possible cortical effects of SDR.