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SEHA's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Launches Comprehensive Spasticity Management Programme With First Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Procedure In Collaboration With Cincinnati Children's
(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) Milestone brings advanced paediatric neurosurgical and rehabilitation care closer to families in the UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 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. About PureHealth: PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 110+ hospitals, 316+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments, and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare. The company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the science of longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. PureHealth's network comprises:
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 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. About PureHealth: PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 110+ hospitals, 316+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments, and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare. The company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the science of longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. PureHealth's network comprises:
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SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
SEHA CLINICS – Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services
Daman (The National Insurance Company) – The UAE's leading health insurer
The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
Rafed – The UAE's largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation
PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region
One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi's first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment
Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US
Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK
Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) – the largest private healthcare provider in Greece and Cyprus
PureCS – A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems
Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE's largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care
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