TREATMENT OF SPASTIC LIMBS AFTER SPINAL CORD INJURY AND THE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF NERVE ROOTS / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

To study the curative effect of selective posterior rhizotomy for spastic limbs after spinal cord injury, and to study the histochemistry of nerve roots. The posterior nerve roots of L 2～S 1 were separated from anterion roots and splited into rootlets. The lower threshold rootlets were sectioned after electrical stimulation. The sectioned rootlets were studied with histochemistry. The resalt showed that the selective posterior rhizotomy was performed on 29 cases who were followed up for 3 years. The treatment was satisfactory. The rate of reducing spasticity was 90% and the rate of functional improvement was 80%. The Ache reaction of sectioned rootlets was positive. The result suggest that it is a successful way to treat spastic limbs after spinal cord injury with selective posterior rhizotomy. Electrical stimulation is necessary in selective posterior rhizotomy.