49th Annual Meeting of the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery Archive-Magnetic Resonance–Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Palliative Rhizotomy: A Novel Technical Application

Magnetic Resonance–Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Palliative Rhizotomy: A Novel Technical Application - Vijay Mysore Ravindra, MD

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Video Transcription

Video Summary

This video discusses a novel application of thermal therapy for palliative rhizotomy in children with severe spasticity related to cerebral palsy (CP). The technique involves using laser ablation of the lumbosacral nerve roots under general anesthesia. The procedure is guided by intraoperative fluoroscopy and MRI thermography. Two male children with spastic quadriparosis were treated, and both showed immediate improvement in tone and passive range of motion post-operatively. The advantages of this minimally invasive approach include shorter hospital stays. However, the study has limitations such as a small sample size and the need for long-term evaluation of outcomes. No further treatment has been required so far. The procedure duration for the two patients ranged from 13 to 15 hours.

Keywords

thermal therapy

palliative rhizotomy

spasticity

cerebral palsy

laser ablation