About the SDR Service | Right Decisions

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde are offer Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), a surgical procedure to help children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The surgery is at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. SDR means Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

SDR can make life easier for some children with CP. It helps by bringing down levels of stiff muscle in the legs. Spasticity is the cause of this. This happens when the children are working their bodies against the pull of resistance.

This video shows a child with their parent/ carer. They have been through the journey of SDR at Glasgow's Children's Hospital. They share their thoughts on the journey.

The SDR professional team

The SDR team is made up of a variety of professionals. They take into account all the things that may affect the child during their growth stages. The process is to help select the right patients.

Dr Valerie Orr is a consultant in Paediatric Neurodisability, and provides expertise on medicines for spasticity and dystonia in children with cerebral palsy.

Ms Janet McCaul and Mr Mohammed Osman are consultants in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery - they offer help with other choices to help keep muscle length which allow bones to grow best. These can be carried out before or after SDR.

Mr Anthony Amato Watkins and Mr Michael Canty are consultants in Paediatric Neurosurgery. They perform the SDR surgery.

photo image — Janet McCaul, Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant

The Glasgow Clinical Gait Analysis Service is used assess suitability for SDR. The service is used for children that are walking without aids and looks at normal walking for them. Dr Bruce Carse is the head of the Gait Lab and a Clinical Scientist and Ms Jennifer Lunan is the principal Physiotherapist there. They provide detailed measures of how the child is walking compared to normal. They also suggest what would be best to help them improve.

Ms Magalie MacKay (Mags) is a specialist SDR Physiotherapist. She is the key person involved in the patient journey. She plays a special role with liaison between community teams and the SDR group. Mags will also establish if SDR is the right path for the individual child. She will also take the lead on rehab during hospital stays.

Ms Magalie McKay, specialist Physiotherapist

Ms Jacqueline Clark is the SDR Co-ordinator. She organises the SDR team, manages the stages of the pathway, and is the point of contact for accessing the service.