Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi has launched a comprehensive spasticity management programme for children, following its first Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) procedure in collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s.
SDR is a specialised neurosurgical procedure used to reduce lower-limb spasticity in children with certain forms of cerebral palsy. The new programme follows a multidisciplinary approach covering patient assessment, surgery, post-operative care and extended rehabilitation.
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Children selected for the procedure undergo detailed evaluations before surgery, followed by a structured rehabilitation programme that can continue for up to a year. This includes intensive physiotherapy, regular clinical assessments and coordinated follow-up to support mobility and functional outcomes.
Dr. Arun Babu Rajeswaran, Consultant Neurosurgeon and Division Chief of Neurosurgery at SEHA’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said: “SDR is not a standalone surgery, but part of a carefully structured treatment programme that begins with rigorous patient selection and continues through long-term rehabilitation. It can make a meaningful difference in mobility and quality of life in children who are good candidates for the procedure. Through our collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s, we have been able to implement a comprehensive pathway that brings advanced spasticity management closer to families in the UAE.”
Dr. Francesco T. Mangano, Division Chief of Paediatric Neurosurgery at Cincinnati Children’s, said: “This collaboration brings specialised SDR evaluation, surgery, and rehabilitation closer to children and families in a region where access to this level of care has previously required travel abroad. By working together to implement a complete clinical pathway, the teams at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Cincinnati Children’s are helping ensure availability to world-class care closer to home.”
The initiative strengthens access to specialised paediatric neurosurgery and rehabilitation services in the UAE, reducing the need for families to travel abroad for highly specialised care.
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Initially focused on patients in Abu Dhabi, the programme is expected to expand to serve children across the UAE and the wider region. The collaboration also supports the development of local clinical expertise in advanced paediatric care.
