Treatment abroad » Conditions and treatments » Surgical cerebral palsy treatment

Surgical cerebral palsy treatment

We help parents choose a clinic and a pediatric neurosurgeon for selective dorsal rhizotomy in Turkey or Israel. First the doctor reviews your child's documents and videos of how they move, then you compare clinic programs.

12,000+ patients since 2016
No mark-up: you pay the clinic directly
Coordinating doctor 7 days a week

The essentials

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical operation for spastic forms of cerebral palsy. Through a small incision in the lower back, the surgeon finds the nerve fibers that send excessive signals to the muscles and selectively cuts some of them. As a result, muscle tone in the legs decreases.

Surgical cerebral palsy treatment is not suitable for every child: the form of cerebral palsy, age, muscle strength and the skills the child already has all matter. The decision is made by the neurosurgeon after an examination and a review of the documents. Long-term rehabilitation after surgery is essential. We help your family get the opinion of a neurosurgeon abroad before the trip, compare clinic programs and arrange treatment.

How treatment can help

Reduce spasticityThe operation lowers excessive muscle tone in the legs that makes it hard for the child to move.
Make movement and care easierWhen the muscles are less tense, it may be easier for the child to sit, stand and move, and for parents to provide care.
Make therapy more productiveWithout constant spasticity, rehabilitation helps build strength, balance and new motor skills.

The result depends on the form of cerebral palsy, age, muscle strength and how regular rehabilitation is after surgery. Whether rhizotomy is right for your child is decided by the neurosurgeon after an examination.

When to ask for a review

Your child has spastic cerebral palsyincreased muscle tone in the legs
Spasticity holds back new skillssitting, standing or walking is getting harder
Botulinum injections help only brieflythe effect of the injections wears off quickly
A doctor has suggested rhizotomyand you want a second opinion
Your family is ready for long rehabilitationtherapy after surgery is essential
You need help with paymentyour child is under 18, interested in foundation support

Not sure whether the operation is right for your child? Send us medical reports, an MRI and videos of how your child moves - the neurosurgeon will review them before your trip.

Best doctors

Memet Ozek

Pediatric neurosurgeon

Experience: more than 35 years

Experience and achievements

Professor, has 13 scientific publications in medical journals in pediatric neurology and epilepsy.

Member of the following organizations:

European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ESPN)
International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN)
Society for Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida Research
Association of Pediatric Neurology of Turkey
Association of Pediatric Oncology of Turkey
President of the European Association of Pediatric Neurosurgery (2008-2010)
Association of Neurosurgery of Turkey

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Amir Kershenovich

Neurosurgeon, oncologist

Experience: more than 20 years

Experience and achievements

Doctor of Medical Sciences. Head of the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Schneider Clinic.

Dr. Kershenovich is a recognized specialist in operations:

Craniotomy
Removal of tumors in the spinal cord in children
Surgical treatment of epilepsy
Surgical treatment of Chiari defect
Surgical treatment of syringomyelia
Endoscopic surgery in the treatment of hydrocephalus and arachnoid cysts
Installation of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts
Surgical treatment of children with cerebral palsy: selective dorsal rhizotomy, intrathecal baclofen pumps, DREZL – dorsal root entry zone lesioning
Surgical treatment of craniosynostosis: metopic, cranial, sagittal, multilayer, with or without Aperts, Crouzon, Pfeifer, Jackson Weis and others syndromes. Including open reconstructive surgeries and minimally invasive multilayer surgeries (also known as “cranial orthosis”)
Cranioplasty
Congenital malformations of the spine, including spina bifida (intrauterine surgery) and release of spinal cord incarceration.
Surgical treatment of encephalocele

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More than 12000 patients we have helped

4.9

How treatment abroad works

Selective dorsal rhizotomy program

Hospitalization: 10 days

day 1Examination
day 4Operation and hospitalization
day 6Discharge
day 7Follow-up examination
day 10Return to home

What we arrange during your trip

Transfer from / to the airportVisa assistancePersonal assistantWi-Fi InternetReservation of accommodation and airline ticketsTranslatorAccommodation for accompanying personSingle room

Best clinics for rhizotomy

Acıbadem Healthcare Group

Istanbul , Turkey

4.5 (25 reviews)

Clinic is certified

ISO 27001 Information Security Management System

Quality Management System Certification for compliance with ISO 9001 in the German accreditation system DAkkS

Acibadem is the largest and one of the most renowned medical groups in Turkey, which annually receives more than 40 thousand patients from different countries, including the CIS. The network includes 22 university clinics in 5 countries and offers specialized centers in such areas as oncology, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, neurosurgery, organ transplantation, and robotic surgery. Acibadem clinics are known for the high quality of medical services thanks to innovative technologies and unique specialists using state-of-the-art equipment. The effectiveness of treatment is confirmed by standards and innovations, as well as by the large number of successful surgeries and procedures performed each year.

Clinic's services:

Clinics's page

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Sheba Medical Center

Ramat Gan , Israel

5 (4 reviews)

Clinic is certified

JCI American Medical Institutions Accreditation

I-CORE (Israeli Centers for Research Excellence)

Best Smart Hospitals in the World 2021 by Newsweek Magazine

The best clinics in the world 2022 according to Newsweek magazine

Best smart hospitals in the world 2023 according to Newsweek magazine

Sheba Medical Center is the largest medical facility in the Middle East, known far beyond the borders of Israel. It treats politicians and VIPs, as well as patients from all over the world, including complex cases in oncology, cardiology, pediatrics and rehabilitation. Sheba was the first hospital in Israel to receive international JCI accreditation and implements advanced diagnostic and treatment methods thanks to its own scientific research.

Clinic's services:

Clinics's page

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Schneider Clinic

Tel Aviv , Israel

5 (5 reviews)

Clinic is certified

Canadian Accreditation Center (Diamond Status Level)

Schneider Children's Medical Center is a university-affiliated multidisciplinary hospital in Israel, recognized as one of the best in the Middle East. The center specializes in treating children and adolescents with complex surgical cases, rare and genetic diseases, using advanced techniques and technologies. The main areas include hematology, oncology, organ and bone marrow transplantation, endocrinology, cardiology and cardiac surgery. The clinic provides highly specialized medical care for children from birth to 18 years of age, providing comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Clinic's services:

Clinics's page

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What to send for a review

A neurologist's report with the diagnosis and form of cerebral palsy
Brain MRI (report and disc)
Videos of how your child sits, stands and moves around
Information about previous treatment: botulinum injections, surgery, rehabilitation
X-rays of the hip joints and spine, if done

Missing some documents? That is fine: the coordinator will tell you which tests are needed.

Get a free doctor's review

We will contact you within 15 minutes

Treatment cost

The clinic gives the exact price after reviewing your child's documents. We send you programs from several clinics so you can compare prices and what is included. Experts Medical services are free for families, and you pay the clinic directly.

What the price depends on

Scope of examination: pre-operative tests and MRI
Additional consultations: cardiologist, ophthalmologist and other specialists if needed

Length of stay: about 10 days under the clinic's program
Country and clinic: Turkey or Israel, the neurosurgeon's experience

You don't pay for the services of Experts Medical

as we are representatives of more than 100 foreign clinics

You get treatment without extra fees

You make all payments only at the clinic upon arrival

Help with paying for children's treatment

Experts Medical works with foreign funds: compensation of up to 20,000 euros is available for patients under 18.

Frequently asked questions about rhizotomy abroad

Olena Elovikova

Medical editor

Olena has been working as a medical editor for 17 years

Abdussamet Bozkurt

surgeon

at Istanbul University Hospital LIV Istinye
Clinical experience: over 20 years
MEDICAL BOARD
Material verified for accuracy

Selective dorsal rhizotomy for cerebral palsy

Modern progressive surgical technologies make it possible to significantly improve the condition of a patient with cerebral palsy. So, selective dorsal rhizotomy is an operation, after which involuntary movements or muscle spasms disappear. The patient gets rid of pain, socializes better, and care for him is simplified. Another obvious advantage of this operation is that it significantly reduces the number of subsequent orthopedic surgeries.

For whom is the SDR recommended?

Selective dorsal rhizotomy, for whom is the SDR recommended

The optimal age for selective dorsal rhizotomy is 3-8 years.

The intervention is performed on patients with spastic diplegia, the most common form of cerebral palsy, in which the muscles of the limbs contract involuntarily.

What is the purpose of the operation?

Involuntary convulsions with cerebral palsy are the result of damage to brain activity: the brain transmits incorrect signals through the nerve endings, causing the muscles of the arms or legs to contract involuntarily. If we exclude nerve endings from this chain (brain – nerves – muscles), spasticity either disappears altogether or noticeably decreases. As a result of the operation, the muscles relax, and the child gets rid of the pain.

How is the SDR going?

Selective dorsal rhizotomy, how is the SDR going Selective dorsal rhizotomy is a minimally invasive neurosurgical operation: damage to healthy tissues is minimized. First, the neurosurgeon makes a small incision in the spine to provide access to the spinal canal. Then, with the help of intraoperative equipment, the nerve endings are determined, which are responsible for the increased tone of certain muscles. After that, thin fibers that transmit spastic impulses intersect. Thanks to innovative equipment, manipulations are carried out without damaging the nerve endings nearby.

After suturing the tissues and the surgical wound, the patient is placed for 24 hours in the postoperative ward. Day after day, the patient is constantly monitored and the work of all organs and systems is verified as well.

Do you need rehabilitation?

Selective dorsal rhizotomy, rehabilitation after SDR After the operation, there is a sharp weakening of the muscles. Since they have not worked normally since birth, there is a risk that muscle weakness will develop.

There is a condition, in which even those motor skills that the patient previously had may disappear. Therefore, rehabilitation is an important and mandatory stage, without which the effectiveness of the operation may be low.

What are the chances of success?

The efficiency of selective dorsal rhizotomy is quite high, over 90%. Moreover, the achieved effect persists for many years.

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Patient reviews

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Alina Konevskaya and Bogdan

5/5

Rating:

Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy

Bogdan (5 years old) is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We turned to the Sheba clinic in Israel. As a result of the selective rhizotomy, the tension of the limbs was reduced. The operation on the spinal cord lasted 6 hours. As a result, muscle tone significantly decreased, and their pathological tension disappeared. But this stage was just the beginning. We underwent rehabilitation at the center at the clinic. A physiotherapist, a psychologist, an occupational therapist, and a nutritionist worked with us. Employees of the educational center at the clinic also participated in the rehabilitation.

Two months after the operation, the set goals were achieved – Bogdan began to walk. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done.

20/04/2021

Alina and Nastia

4/5

Rating:

Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy

4 months have passed since my daughter’s operation (belt rhizotomy). We went to a consultation, where they told us that the result was good, the legs relaxed, the spine is good. She doesn’t need anymore to wear the corset but our Nastena arches very much the head back and it’s still difficult to bend the legs. Therefore, one should not await much from this operation and that it will solve all problems in all limbs…

17/07/2020

Natalya L.

5/5

Rating:

Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy

My son (6 years old) underwent SDR (rhizotomy) in Germany on 11/20/2019 at the Bonn University Test Clinic, Professor Hannes Haberl.

After rhizotomy, difficult work to retrain the muscles and strengthen them is needed. Changing habits is very difficult. An easy example is as follows: you have always eaten and written with your right hand, and now you need to relearn how to do everything with your left hand without using your right hand. Is it really difficult? Will it cause anger, irritation, a desire to give up everything, and return to the usual right hand? For a child, it is even more difficult to understand why he should do all this. If you’re ready to compete with all these difficulties, go for it!

01/07/2020

Ilona Vasilyeva

4/5

Rating:

Diagnosis: Cerebral palsy

My child did a rhizotomy in Berlin. We have now returned to Russia. We found a rehabilitation therapist. Now my son can walk with support, stand on all fours, roll over, and crawl backward. Before that, he was not able even to stand.

My son did not sleep for 6 years, his legs were spinning in his arms. This is why we decided. Now he can even hold a brush, he loves to draw. Now he feels really better.

Frequently asked questions

Who is selective dorsal rhizotomy suitable for?

The operation is considered for spastic forms of cerebral palsy, when increased muscle tone in the legs prevents the child from moving and developing. Age, muscle strength and motor skills matter. Whether rhizotomy is suitable is decided by the neurosurgeon after an examination and a review of the documents.

How long is the trip for rhizotomy?

Under the clinic's program, the trip takes about 10 days: tests, surgery, observation and a follow-up examination. The coordinator will confirm the exact schedule with the clinic.

What happens right after the operation?

After surgery, the child spends 24 hours in the postoperative ward under constant medical supervision. How long the operation itself takes depends on the case, and the coordinator will check this with the clinic.

Is rehabilitation needed after rhizotomy?

Yes, it is an essential stage: after surgery the muscles become weaker and need to be strengthened gradually. Rehabilitation takes a long time, and the first months are especially intensive. The doctors draw up the therapy plan after surgery.

How much does surgical cerebral palsy treatment abroad cost?

The price depends on the scope of examination, additional consultations and the clinic. After reviewing the documents, we request programs from several clinics so you can compare prices. Experts Medical services are free for families.

Can we get help paying for treatment?

For patients under 18, Experts Medical helps prepare applications to foundations abroad: the compensation can be up to €20 000. Please ask the coordinator about the conditions.

The information on this page is for reference only and is not medical advice. The treatment method is chosen by a specialist after reviewing the patient's medical situation.

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