In the new year, you may be wondering how to alleviate the pain and increase the quality of life for a child who has Cerebral Palsy.

Fortunately, there are solutions that are worth considering in 2023. Surgery is one of those solutions.

There are two main types of surgery for Cerebral Palsy:

• Orthopedic surgery: Children with severe contractures or deformities might benefit from surgery on bones or joints to place their arms, spine, hips or legs in their correct positions. Such surgical procedures can also lengthen muscles and lengthen or reposition tendons that are shortened by contractures. These corrections can lessen pain and improve mobility for children with Cerebral Palsy. The procedures can also make it easier to use other tools for combatting Cerebral Palsy, like a walker, braces or crutches.
• Cutting nerve fibers (selective dorsal rhizotomy): In severe cases of Cerebral Palsy, when other treatments haven’t helped, surgeons can perform a procedure that involves cutting the nerves serving specific spastic muscles, called selective dorsal rhizotomy. This procedure can help relax the muscles in the legs and reduces pain.

Without surgery, there are other options to consider for a pain-free 2023, too.

For example, physical therapy can help a child’s strength, flexibility, balance, motor development and mobility, and occupation therapy can help your child gain independence in daily activities and routines. The latter can help improve your child’s use of walkers, wide-based canes, standing and seating systems, or electric wheelchairs.

For more information on surgical procedures for treating Cerebral Palsy, click here.