What is SEMLS?

SEMLS is a procedure on lower extremities like the hips, knees, ankles or feet. One surgery involves multiple corrections for existing soft tissue and bone problems. SEMLS usually results in fewer surgeries overall and is just one phase of rehabilitation.

SEMLS can be part of a treatment plan for conditions like cerebral palsy and spina bifida. For cerebral palsy, SEMLS is ideally performed after treatments to reduce muscle tone so that deformities don’t recur if your child has a growth spurt.

SEMLS might help your child to:

• Improve or preserve walking abilities
• Enhance mobility skills
• Decrease consumption of oxygen, which will help them tire less easily
• Preserve joint mobility
• Reduce risk of issues associated with misaligned muscles and bones
• Reduce risk of pain as they grow older

Neurologic conditions that affect the brain or spinal cord can make walking difficult. Left untreated, these conditions can cause painful, arthritic joints. If your child has cerebral palsy or spina bifida, a gait and motion analysis can help determine if SEMLS makes sense as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

If your child has undergone a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) for cerebral palsy, SEMLS can help correct bone or joint deformities, allowing for more balanced muscle and joint function.

At Gillette, your child’s growth, challenges and expected outcomes will be assessed by specialists who are trained to work with children. Once your child is identified as a good candidate for surgery, we’ll work with your family to plan a time for surgery and rehabilitation that will work with your schedule.

Gillette is a leader in providing pediatric orthopedic SEMLS. During a single SEMLS intervention, we can correct multiple bone and soft tissue problems using the expertise of a highly skilled pediatric orthopedic surgery team.

To prepare for SEMLS, please view our guide to preparing for surgery at Gillette.

Full recovery from SEMLS can take up to one year. For more information, visit our Recovery from Surgery page.

Following SEMLS, your child will need significant help with things like dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom for at least three weeks. If your child's surgery involved bony procedures, they will not be able to bear weight until X-rays reveal adequate healing. Gillette staff can provide information about safely transferring your child and what activities and exercises are OK for them to participate in based on their healing progress.

Successfully identifying which patients will benefit from SEMLS, performing surgery and providing rehabilitation care require the collaboration of a highly skilled team.

You’ll have access to a full range of services and extensive family support at Gillette. An expert team will collaborate to provide comprehensive care for your child, and will help you navigate the services you need.

SEMLS to correct bone and soft tissue problems might be just one part of your child’s treatment plan, which also might include:

• Orthotics, Prosthetics and Seating
• Gait and motion analysis
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Rehabilitation therapies
• Therapeutic recreation

To help your family prepare for a hospital stay and make the most of rehabilitation care, Gillette offers support services like:

• Child life
• Music therapy
• Neuropsychology
• Psychology
• School services
• Social work