Milestone brings advanced paediatric neurosurgical and rehabilitation care closer to families in the UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2 September 2026 – SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, announced that SEHA’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) has successfully performed its first Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) procedure in collaboration with Cincinnati Children's, marking the launch of a comprehensive spasticity management programme for children in the UAE.
SDR is an advanced specialised neurosurgical intervention used to reduce lower-limb spasticity in children with spastic diplegia associated with cerebral palsy. The programme at SKMC is being implemented in line with the full clinical pathway followed by Cincinnati Children’s, including careful patient selection and preoperative assessment, the surgical procedure, postoperative care, and long-term rehabilitation. This expands access to advanced, world-class healthcare, enabling families in the UAE to benefit from highly specialised care closer to home.
The programme is built around a multidisciplinary model that extends beyond surgery itself. Children considered suitable for SDR undergo careful evaluation, followed by surgery and a structured rehabilitation pathway that may continue for up to one year. This includes intensive physiotherapy, regular reassessment, and coordinated follow-up designed to support mobility, function, and long-term clinical outcomes.
The launch of the service strengthens SKMC’s position in paediatric neurosurgery and rehabilitation, while also supporting Abu Dhabi’s wider commitment to expanding highly specialised care within the UAE. The programme will initially serve patients in Abu Dhabi, with plans for broader expansion across the country and the wider region.
For families, the programme also represents a new level of reassurance. Yousuf’s mother said: “As a mother, it was incredibly difficult to make the decision for my seven-year-old son Yousuf to undergo the SDR procedure. But what reassured me was knowing that the surgery would be led by the expert teams from SKMC and Cincinnati Children’s. Having both teams work together gave me confidence and peace of mind. The SDR procedure at SKMC has given my son hope, and I am deeply grateful for the exceptional care he received.”
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.”
Through the continued expansion of specialised paediatric services, SEHA’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is helping strengthen local clinical capability, improve access to advanced treatment options, and provide children with access to highly specialised care.