Abstract
The authors' first experience with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) at the lumbar level in the treatment of cerebral palsies (CP) in children aged 3-11 years who had lower spastic paraparesis of varying severity is presented. Complex clinical and physiological studies of all 9 children were made before and after surgery (follow-ups lasting 6-12 months). Preliminary results have indicated that the most significant changes occur primarily in pathological postural tonic reflexes. SCS has virtually no effect on fixed limb deformities, which requires further orthopedic surgical correction. A medical care schedule for CP children affected predominantly with lower spastic paraparesis should include, among its first priorities, electrode implantation for SCS. Due to the specific rehabilitative dynamics of motor functions, SCS should be made to treat these children before the deformities in the lower extremity joints get fixed.
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