Which procedure involves cutting some sensory nerve fibers entering the spinal cord to reduce spasticity?

Which procedure involves cutting some sensory nerve fibers entering the spinal cord to reduce spasticity?

• A. Orthopedic Surgery
• B. Intrathecal Baclofen
• C. Deep Brain Stimulation
• D. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (Spasticity)

Answer: (D)

Spasticity can persist because the spinal motor neurons receive excessive, inappropriate sensory input that keeps them firing. The procedure that directly reduces that input is selective dorsal rhizotomy, which involves cutting a carefully chosen subset of sensory nerve rootlets as they enter the spinal cord, usually in the lower spine. By lowering the amount of excitatory afferent signals reaching the motor circuits, the overactive reflexes weaken, and muscle tone decreases. This helps improve ease of movement and the effectiveness of therapy. Other options don’t accomplish this reduction in sensory input. Orthopedic surgery changes bones or tendons to improve alignment or function but doesn’t modulate spinal sensory input. Intrathecal baclofen delivers medication into the spinal fluid to dampen spasticity without cutting nerve fibers. Deep brain stimulation alters activity in brain circuits rather than the spinal sensory afferents.

Spasticity can persist because the spinal motor neurons receive excessive, inappropriate sensory input that keeps them firing. The procedure that directly reduces that input is selective dorsal rhizotomy, which involves cutting a carefully chosen subset of sensory nerve rootlets as they enter the spinal cord, usually in the lower spine. By lowering the amount of excitatory afferent signals reaching the motor circuits, the overactive reflexes weaken, and muscle tone decreases. This helps improve ease of movement and the effectiveness of therapy.

Other options don’t accomplish this reduction in sensory input. Orthopedic surgery changes bones or tendons to improve alignment or function but doesn’t modulate spinal sensory input. Intrathecal baclofen delivers medication into the spinal fluid to dampen spasticity without cutting nerve fibers. Deep brain stimulation alters activity in brain circuits rather than the spinal sensory afferents.