Cervical selective dorsal rhizotomy for treating spasticity in upper limb neurosurgical way to neurosurgical technique

•It is the first report of the effectiveness of CSDR in a patient of spastic upper limb.•The spasticity in the upper limbs was reduced effectively after the surgery.•The PROM and function of the patient in the upper limbs improved.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy is an effective method to reduce spasticity of the lower limbs. However, functional outcomes in the upper limb following selective dorsal rhizotomy at the cervical level have not been reported. Here we report the clinical course after selective dorsal rhizotomy at the cervical level in a patient with hemiplegic spasticity caused by brain injury. The selective dorsal rootlets at the cervical level were sectioned under electrophysiological monitoring. The patient was followed for 1 year to evaluate the outcome of surgery. The spasticity in the upper limb was reduced and the passive range of motion and function of movement improved. However, the effectiveness and the safety of operation should be studied further in clinical trials.