Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)

Care coordinators: 682-303-0431

Choosing our program

Meet our team

Cook Children's is among the few medical centers in Texas with the expertise to safely and effectively perform selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). This surgery can permanently reduce spasticity by disrupting the sensory feedback from the spinal cord. Our highly skilled pediatric neurologists and neurosurgeons evaluate more than 1,000 patients for cerebral palsy each year. They are committed to helping children with spastic cerebral palsy live fuller, more active lives.

We recognize that selective dorsal rhizotomy may not be the right treatment for all children with cerebral palsy. Our experienced, multidisciplinary team carefully evaluates each child in our care to determine if SDR can help them achieve the best outcome.

- Stephanie Acord, M.D.

Choosing Cook Children's for selective dorsal rhizotomy

The experts in our Complex Movement Disorders Clinic offer a wide range of effective treatments, including SDR. When you refer a patient to our care, we'll work together to find the best option. We're committed to helping each patient achieve a higher quality of life.

We offer:

Collaborative care: Experts from across a range of Cook Children's specialties work together to provide comprehensive treatment for patients with cerebral palsy. If our team determines SDR is the best option, our neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and neurorehabilitation specialists create a customized therapy and surgery plan.
Extensive pre-surgical evaluation: If our team determines your patient may be a good candidate for SDR, we recommend further testing before proceeding. Tests may include gait/motion analysis, updated imaging and an intrathecal baclofen bolus trial. Children in such a trial receive a small dose of baclofen to temporarily improve their tone. This procedure helps us further determine their candidacy for SDR.
Targeted rehabilitation: After selective dorsal rhizotomy, children require intensive, in-patient physical therapy for several weeks in our neurorehabilitation unit. Our specialized neurorehabilitation experts (and sometimes our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation provider) work with each patient to quickly regain muscle control and improve mobility.
Full range of additional treatment options: Selective dorsal rhizotomy is rarely a standalone procedure. Most children who have this surgery will also require follow-up orthopedic surgeries. Our experts provide the full continuum of care, helping your patients achieve the best outcomes.

Partnering with you to treat spastic cerebral palsy

When you make a referral, our Neurosciences team ensures your patient receives a comprehensive assessment, to determine whether SDR is appropriate.

Throughout evaluation and treatment, you remain a trusted partner in your patient's care. We provide timely updates through our physician portal, and we also welcome you to contact us directly with any questions or concerns about your patient's progress.

When it's time for your patient to leave our medical center, we help facilitate the return to your care. You'll once again serve as the primary physician, with our team here to provide support and coordinate follow-up care. We're always just a phone call away.

Innovative treatment for spastic cerebral palsy

Our neurosurgeons have been performing selective dorsal rhizotomy since 2016. Using this unique procedure, we've helped children with spastic cerebral palsy live fuller lives with less pain and greater mobility.

Families who decide to pursue SDR have a long medical journey ahead of them. Starting with evaluation and pre-treatment therapy, then continuing through surgery and rehab, the process typically lasts six months or more. Our team closely monitors progress and offers support every step of the way.

Treating children born with spastic cerebral palsy takes a dedicated team of experts. Specialists from our Cerebral Palsy Clinic and our Spasticity Clinic work together to evaluate a patient as a potential candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy.

Before deciding that SDR is the right treatment option, we:

Gather a complete health history, including other cerebral palsy treatment
Perform gait analysis in our Motion Lab
Work with specialized physical therapists in our neurorehabilitation program to assess muscle tone, motor control and spasticity

Meet our team

Stephanie Acord, MD

Neurology

4.9 out of 5

67 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-2500

Alexandria Lutley, MD

Neurology

4.8 out of 5

72 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-2500

Richard Roberts, MD

Neurosurgery

4.9 out of 5

83 Ratings

Accepting new patients

682-885-2500

Working together is in our DNA

It takes more than medicine and research to ensure that patients reach their goals. It also takes compassionate collaboration. Our team of renowned neurologists, neurosurgeons and neurorehabilitation specialists works with you, your patient and the family to ensure the best outcome for each child. We offer children with spastic cerebral palsy access to SDR as well as other advanced treatments. Our goal is to help them achieve better movement today, with an eye on their future as well.

Designations and recognition

When you refer a patient to Cook Children's Neurosurgery program, you can trust that you're choosing a team with extensive expertise, resources and commitment to providing the best available care possible.

We've been ranked on the Best Children's Hospitals list for Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News and World Report for 17 consecutive years.

Magnet^® designation is considered the international gold standard of nursing excellence, and Cook Children's Medical Center is now the first freestanding, pediatric hospital in North Texas, and the 10th in the world, to receive this prestigious designation four consecutive times.

Cook Children's is recognized as a Top Children's Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group. This Leapfrog Top Hospital award highlights our widely recognized achievements in patient safety and quality.

Connect with us

Referring physicians find our rapid response time surprising - and refreshing. We understand the critical need of your patients, which is why we get your patients the timely help they need.

Whether seeking a consultation or wishing to refer a patient, all you have to do is call — from there, we'll handle the rest. A care coordinator reaches out to the family and works with them throughout their SDR journey.

Contact our Cerebral Palsy program
682-885-2500 phone

Coming from outside of Texas?

We offer many services to families who are traveling from out-of-state. We can help with appointment scheduling, insurance approvals and making your experience with Cook Children's as easy as possible.

Please contact our Global Health Services clinical coordinator if you need help with out-of-state or international referrals at:

682-303-0431 phone
682-885-2557 fax
GlobalHealthServices@cookchildrens.org

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Cerebral Palsy

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)

Choosing Cook Children's for selective dorsal rhizotomy

Partnering with you to treat spastic cerebral palsy

Innovative treatment for spastic cerebral palsy

Meet our team

Stephanie Acord, MD

Alexandria Lutley, MD

Richard Roberts, MD

Working together is in our DNA

Designations and recognition

Connect with us

Coming from outside of Texas?