Upper Cervical Ventral Rhizotomy and Selective Spinal Accessory Nerve Section for Spasmodic Torticollis

As one of the various surgical procedures for the spasmodic torticollis the author performed bilateral C1, 2, 3 ventral rhizotomy and unilateral selective spinal accessory nerve section in 4 patients with disabling torticollis, The patients consisted of 3 men and 1 woman with symptom duration of 1 to 3 years. The surgical outcome was excellent in 2, markedly improved in 1 and slightly improved in 1. Postoperative complications were shoulder weakness, transient leg weakness, voiding difficulty and mild weakness of neck movement.