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

ABSTRACT

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.