Magnetic Resonance-Guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy for Palliative Rhizotomy: A Novel Technical Application

Background: Spastic cerebral palsy is caused by an insult to the developing brain. Various medical and surgical procedures are used to reduce tone.

Objective: To describe a novel method of magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal ablation for palliative rhizotomy.

Methods: Patients treated at a single institution with percutaneous rhizotomy using magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy were identified. Preoperative and postoperative Modified Ashworth Scale scores were collected as well as procedural information.

Results: Two male children (7.8 and 19 yr, respectively) with spastic quadriparesis were treated using this technique. Neither patient experienced surgical or perioperative complications, and both were discharged from the hospital within 48 h. Each of them demonstrated improvement in his Modified Ashworth Scale score with no need for retreatment for spasticity at last follow-up.

Conclusion: These 2 cases illustrate a novel technique for treating spasticity in the setting of cerebral palsy. Further study of this technique in additional patients, and comparison with traditional methods of surgical tone reduction, are warranted.