title: Reflex variability in selective dorsal rhizotomy.
abstract: The variability of reflex responses during selective dorsal rhizotomy was studied in eight children between the ages of 3 and 7 years. For a given dorsal root or rootlet, the electrical reflex threshold and response varied considerably when observed over several minutes. Changes in electrode pressure, mechanical dissection of the root, and reflex spatial facilitation were all found to contribute to the variability. Even when electrode pressure was held constant, intrinsic spinal cord reflex variability substantially weakened the predictability of the intraoperative selection method used during this surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Schiff
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004056:Differential Threshold; D004210:Dissection; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D011312:Pressure; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors