surgery group). Post-operatively, peak knee flexion normalized and anterior pelvic tilt <strong>de</strong>creased by a mean of 4.4 <strong>de</strong>grees for the TAL Group only (p
O-56 THE EFFECT OF INCLUDING S2 ROOTLETS IN SELECTIVE DORSAL RHIZOTOMY SURGERY Schwartz, Michael H. 1,2 , Trost, Joyce P. 1 , Dunn, Mary E 1,2,3 Krach, Linda E 1,2 , Novacheck, Tom F. 1,2 1 Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul, USA 2 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA 3 Shriner’s Hospital for Children - Twin Cities Unit, Minneapolis, USA Summary and Conclusions One and two year outcomes for selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery spanning L1-S1 and L1-S2 rootlets were essentially equivalent. Introduction Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has been used to reduce tone and increase function in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). Surgical techniques vary, but the typical method involves micro-dissection and electrophysiological testing. One element of the technique that has remained a topic of <strong>de</strong>bate is whether S2 level rootlets should be inclu<strong>de</strong>d. In a study of 85 subjects, Lang found that sparing S2 rootlets leaves “functionally impairing spasticity” in the plantarflexors [1]. Lang’s study did not inclu<strong>de</strong> quantitative gait measures as part of the outcome. Conversely, Molenaers’ study of 12 subjects suggested that inclusion of S2 rootlets, while producing 1-year outcomes equivalent to the S1 surgery, lead to loss of pelvic tilt, hip extension and knee extension improvements 2 years post-SDR [2]. Molenaers’ study did not report plantarflexor spasticity outcomes. Statement of Clinical Significance It is important to know whether or not S2 rootlets should be inclu<strong>de</strong>d in SDR surgery. Methods Following ethical approval subjects were retrospectively i<strong>de</strong>ntified as follows: i) gait analysis 0-18 months before SDR (pre), 8-36 months after SDR (post #1), and 6-24 months after post #1 (post #2), ii) SDR at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare or Shriner’s Hospital for Children–Twin Cities. Other clinical patient criteria and surgical <strong>de</strong>tails found in prior publications [3]. Groups were created based on whether S2 rootlets had been inclu<strong>de</strong>d (S2) or not (S1). A linear mixed mo<strong>de</strong>l analysis was used to assess kinematic outcome measures over three time points (pre, post #1, and post #2), while plantarflexor spasticity outcome pre→post #1 was assessed using repeated measures ANOVA (SPSS 13.0.1, SPSS, Inc., Chicago, USA). Results There were 97 subjects with pre and initial follow-up (post #1) data and 27 subjects with subsequent follow-up data (post #2) [Table 1]. Many subjects un<strong>de</strong>rwent orthopaedic surgery following post #1, leading to the significant “drop out” rate. All kinematic measures improved pre→post #1 and were unchanged from post #1→post #2, except mean pelvic tilt, which worsened for both groups and both intervals. No differences were found in the response of kinematic variables based on level of SDR (i.e. no pre/pst by S1/S2 interactions); in fact the smallest p-value for an S1 vs. S2 interaction was p = 0.51. Spasticity, as measured by Ashworth score, was reduced equally and significantly for both groups during the pre→post #1 interval (S1: 3.1→1.7, S2: 3.0→1.6). - 184 -