Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity

The World Leader in SDR Treatment

Families from around the world have been traveling to St. Louis Children’s Hospital since 1987 to seek care for their child with cerebral palsy. Why? Because together with our WashU Medicine partners we pioneered the use of a spinal surgery called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR).

WashU Medicine neurosurgeon, T.S. Park, MD, developed and refined surgical treatments for SDR and performed more than 5,300 surgeries on children and adults from 87 countries at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. This surgery gives select patients with cerebral palsy spasticity the ability to walk and provides families and caregivers with a renewed sense of hope for their loved one.

Today, the Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity is led by WashU Medicine neurosurgeon Jarod L. Roland, MD, who was trained by Dr. Park. With the help of a team that includes physicians, nurses, dietitians, social workers, Child Life specialists, and physical and occupational therapists, the goal of the center remains the same: help reduce—and when possible, eliminate—spasticity so children experience a greater level of comfort and range of movement.

Who Benefits from SDR?

All children with spastic diplegia, triplegia and quadriplegia following premature birth should be evaluated for selective dorsal rhizotomy. The center’s director, Jarod L. Roland, MD, believes children with cerebral palsy spasticity should be evaluated for potential dorsal rhizotomy before other orthopedic procedures are performed.

For more information on criteria, please see Patient Selection.

If you are interested in being evaluated for selective dorsal rhizotomy, please fill out the Patient Information Form to complete a screening.

Patient Information Form

Contact Us

The Center for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity
St. Louis Children's Hospital
One Children's Place
Room 4S20
St. Louis, Missouri 63110 USA
Phone 314-454-2813, or toll-free 800-416-9956
Fax 314-454-2818