Which of the following is a neurosurgical intervention used in CP?

• A. Distal femoral extension osteotomy
• B. Acetabular osteotomy
• C. Capsulotomy
• D. Selective dorsal rhizotomy

Answer: (D)

Selective dorsal rhizotomy is a neurosurgical approach in cerebral palsy that reduces spasticity by selectively cutting certain sensory nerve rootlets as they enter the spinal cord. By decreasing the abnormal muscle tone, it allows more effective therapy and functional motor training, particularly for gait. This neurosurgical intervention targets neural input directly, rather than changing bones or joints.

The other options are orthopedic procedures: distal femoral extension osteotomy realigns the femur to improve knee extension during walking; acetabular osteotomy reshapes the hip socket to improve hip stability; capsulotomy releases tight joint capsules to increase range of motion. While these can improve function by addressing musculoskeletal deformities, they do not modulate neural input like a neurosurgical procedure does.